CIVIC leaders were last night hoping their chances of hosting a prestigious competition again has not gone to the dogs.

Darlington could be in danger of losing the nationally-renowned dog show it has staged for nearly 150 years - and the economic boost that comes with it.

Darlington Championship Dog Show will be held at Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, later this month - and it remains uncertain whether the Rovers will return.

Nearly 9,000 dogs will attend the show, from September 16 to 18.

But, as show organisers get used to their new surroundings, speculation over the venue for next year's event has already started.

Darlington Dog Show Society had to move the contest from South Park, where it has been held since 1891, while restoration work continues on the showground.

Because Darlington Borough Council could not confirm whether the site would be available, the decision was taken to move the event.

Newby Hall administrator Stuart Gill said that, if the show proved a success, the venue would be keen to add it to its events calendar.

But Darlington council, which offered show bosses various sites in the town for this year, said it wanted the competition back.

A spokesman said: "The dog show has always been successful in Darlington, we have always supported it and we'd very much welcome it back."

Society secretary Freda Marshall said: "We don't know where we will be next year. We have to decide if we like Newby, and Newby has to decide if it likes us.

"The council has assured us we can go back to South Park next year, but whether it will be ready for us remains to be seen. We'll wait until after this year's show and then we'll decide what we are doing."

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