VILLAGERS have called on Prime Minister Tony Blair's agent to help their drive to resurrect their former mining community.

Ferryhill Station has been in decline since the 1960s, when the neighbouring collieries of Deaf Hill and Mainsforth were closed.

At the same time, the village was condemned by the Government to planning category D status, like many other former pit communities in the region, which meant it was left to die out because it was seen as having no viable future.

Unemployment is extensive in Ferryhill Station, and the village suffers from problems with housing and anti-social behaviour.

John Burton, constituency agent for Mr Blair, the Sedgefield MP, has been invited to a public meeting next week where it is hoped he will be joined by representatives of Durham county, Sedgefield borough and Ferryhill Town councils.

Also invited are local police representatives and officials from the Three Rivers Housing Association.

Villager Janet McDonagh, a former vice-chairman of the now-defunct Chapel Row Residents' Association, has helped organise the meeting, which will be led by former Sedgefield Mayor, Councillor Brian Avery.

She said: "I got on to John Burton because I just felt things were deteriorating further and further. There is a multitude of problems down there, with housing and a gang that is giving people aggravation."

Last year, a £35,000 study of options available for Ferryhill Station was commissioned by Sedgefield Borough Council and the Three Rivers Housing Association.

The resulting report outlined three options: the demolition of a large part of the Rows area of the village, major demolition and rebuilding, or some demolition and the creation of a community plan.

This latter option was favoured by residents and the consultants who carried out the study.

Now, Mrs McDonagh and others are fighting to push the regeneration on as quickly as possible.

She said: "We are calling on John Burton to see if he can help speed this thing up."

Coun Avery said that although anti-social behaviour and housing were the main problems, improvements to a dangerous road junction at the station were also wanted.

"The whole area has more or less been left to decay," he said.

The meeting takes place next Tuesday, at 6.45pm, at the Elton Arms.