The overall aim is to provide you with an online gateway to all local organisations and links to their websites, along with the facility to create a small promotional website for those who do not currently have a presence on the web.

Using the recently developed Teesdale branding, it aims to create a positive impression of the area as a thriving business location and great place to live, work and spend leisure time.

It will deliver key marketing messages about Teesdale, its businesses and people, showcasing the region as a 'can do' place with enterprising organisations and individuals, reflecting its strong sense of community spirit.

It will be a comprehensive local business directory and reference site providing links to Teesdale businesses and organisations.

It hopes to encourage and facilitate access to and use of the internet and provide additional marketing opportunities for local business and community organisations online.

By working closely with key partner organisations it will create a reliable online community resource.

The underlying aim is to signpost to quality websites of interest, rather than duplicating information held elsewhere, hence for each section of the site key partner organisations have been profiled.

Information in the site can be viewed in a number of ways, by browsing the Visit, Business or Community sections, through the categories within the Gateway Directory such as Antiques, Outdoor Pursuits, Speciality Shops, Buy Now Online, by looking at villages within the Dale to see what is available in each or through a specific search enabling you to look for a particular business, organisation or keyword.

The Gateway has been created by the The Enterprise Agency in partnership with the Teesdale Village Halls Consortium, 2D, Teesdale Marketing, the Teesdale Mercury, UTASS, Teesdale District Council and is owned by Teesdale Net a local consortium dedicated to promoting access to and the use of technology by local people.

If you would like to find out more or make sure you have your free listing, please contact Charlotte Stow at the The Enterprise Agency on 01833 696 600.