HUNDREDS of people have been supporting a campaign to keep Dorchester's Tourist Information Centre (TIC).

West Dorset District Council is currently running a consultation into the future of TIC services in the town.

The council is consulting on two options for the future of the service - relocating it to Dorchester Library in South Walks House or replacing it with an unmanned information point.

A petition set up by traders in Antelope Walk, where the TIC is currently situated, calling for the service to stay where it is has now attracted around 900 signatures while it is believed several hundred people have also taken part in the council consultation exercise.

Among those leading the fight to keep the TIC are district councillors David Taylor and Nigel Bundy.

Cllr Bundy said: "I think the campaign is going well, it obviously has raised the profile and as far as I am aware we have had quite a number of people getting involved in the consultation.

"However, we want more and the more people that express their views, the more we can put pressure on West Dorset District Council to at least first of all keep a TIC in Dorchester, which is the absolute priority, and secondly express their views as to whether they think it should go to the library or efforts should be made to site it where or near to where it is at the moment.

"We want to try and encourage people to give their views and the more views we get the better."

Cllr Bundy said he was pleased that organisations like the Dorchester BID (Business Improvement Districts) and other groups in the county town had got behind the campaign.

Cllr Taylor added: "We have had a great response from people wanting to keep the TIC where it is or close by.

"It shows it is valued by people in Dorchester and even visitors, it's vitally important we keep this TIC open, well manned and well staffed."

In a message to people who had not yet taken part in the consultation, Cllr Taylor said: "Please take part in the consultation for the TIC because if your comments are not know they won't be acted upon."

Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation has less then two weeks to do so, with the closing date Tuesday, October 11.

Visit dorsetforyou.com/DorchesterTICconsultation