MORE than 2,000 people have responded to the biggest public consultation exercise ever staged in Durham City.

Five weeks after the launch of the Durham City Vision exercise, to gauge public opinion on the future of the city over the next 15 years, responses are flooding in.

City council leader Fraser Reynolds said: "I am delighted so many people in Durham, and surrounding areas, are contributing to the debate about the future of the city.

"With three weeks still to go, I hope even more people will fill in our questionnaire and tell us what they want to happen in this city.

"We wanted this to be the biggest public consultation exercise in Durham's history, and it is certainly going that way."

The closing date for responses is Thursday, August 25, after which they will be analysed before results are announced in the autumn.

Among the issues highlighted so far have been calls for improved shopping, better parking and more leisure facilities, including a cinema.

Organisers say a strong debate is developing about congestion, possible new roads and development at nine key city centre locations identified by consultants.