The South Tyneside branch of the Keep Metro Public group campaigned in South Shields town centre on Saturday, asking people to sign cards to send to their local MP, local councillors and Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.

The group has been campaigning for the past six months, arguing against plans to 'market test' some Metro operations.

Market testing is a full scale tendering process to get the best value for money.

Private companies will compete with an in-house bid.

Keep Metro Public is supported by a number of local figures including Sunderland South MP Chris Mullin, several European election candidates and trade unions.

South Tyneside group co-ordinator Shirley Ford said: "We argue that we have all invested in the Metro rail system, and that we don't want it sold off behind closed doors with no public consultation."

Decisions on how public transport is managed in the region are made by the Passenger Transport Authority, where each borough has councillor delegates.

There is no obligation to hold a vote inside individual councils on such issues.

Coun Tom Hanson and Coun Michael Clare sit as the borough's representatives on the authority.

South Shields MP David Miliband said: "A number of constituents have contacted me already on this matter, and I have raised this issue with the Secretary of State for Transport and Bernard Garner, director general of Nexus."

Ms Ford added: "There was a fantastic response on Saturday. We're going to continue this effort right across the Metro system, to give passengers their chance to have their say on these changes."

Nexus insists the system will remain publicly-owned, with private contractors employed only where taxpayers' money can be saved.

Today it launched an information drive in King Street, South Shields, to explain the benefits of the Metro modernisation programme to the public.