A GROUP has pledged to step up and fill the void after a town decided against having its own council.

Crook Community Partnership has been running since 1995 but this week officially relaunched itself in the wake of the failed attempts to form a town council for Crook.

The group’s trustees said the partnership needs to reflect 21st Century Crook and aims to make the town a better place to live, work and play.

One of the group’s first new projects is to help the British Legion with the Poppy Appeal in the town.

It is also running workshops and advice session for job hunters at their centre on Hope Street.

The partnership’s trustees have all received specialist training and one of the newest members, county councillor for Crook South Eddie Murphy, said the partnership should provide a vital link between Durham County Council and the people of Crook.

He said: “We were disappointed to not get a town council but it’s time for the partnership to step up and fill that void.

“We want to work with the county council to make sure Crook is looked after better than it has been recently.”

Coun Murphy said he was also looking forward to the Remembrance Day services this weekend as he is the new president of the Willington, Crook and District Royal British Legion.