ICE hockey fans are urging people to back their campaign for a new rink to be built in Durham City.

The County Durham Ice Foundation has launched a petition to hand to Durham City Council, which is currently consulting on future development in the city through the 2020 Vision exercise.

The foundation has been in talks with the council and a developer and is "extremely hopeful'' a new rink, that would also serve as venue for other sports and pop concerts can be built in the city centre.

But it wants to be able to show the council the level of support for the facility and is urging residents to sign its petition.

Michael Vasey, of the foundation, said that it was hoped people would write individually as well as signing a big banner that would be handed to the 2020 Vision steering group. "The demand and support for the rink is there.People still have fond memories of the old rink.''

The foundation has a business plan, which Mr Vasey said showed that its plans for a multi-purpose venue with an Olympic-sized ice pad would be viable.

He said the group would have to lease council land and obtain grants to prepare it for development. A developer would build and run it, employing 20 people directly and more indirectly.

The project would cost about £2.5m, but it would not need any subsidies to run. "It is a viable proposition. We are extremely confident it will become a reality," said Mr Vasey'

The city's former ice rink, which closed in 1996, was home to the successful Durham Wasps ice hockey team.

The foundation holds occasional petition-signing sessions on Saturdays in the Market Place, and people can find out more about the campaign from its website, www.cdif.co.uk