Spennymoor has lost thousands of manufacturing jobs during the past decade from factories which also employed workers from surrounding villages.

My petition calling for special help for the area is still open.

However, I need a sharp influx of online signatures to force the Prime Minister to respond.

If you are concerned about employment opportunities for young people leaving school or the many people who have lost their jobs and are presently seeking employment please sign the petition at petitions.number10.gov.uk/ spennymoor.

Councillor Ben Ord, Chairman, Spennymoor Liberal Democrats.