Timeout Problem - Urgently Need Help!

Hi, My site (in VB.NET) has developed a intermediate timeout problem.

System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException: Timeout expired. The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.

Can someone tell me what could cause this intermediate problem. Is it something wrong with the query? It is definitely the problem from the query as I have 2 queries using same design and both of them develop similar problem.

Pleaee help as our site will have major advertising next month so need to fix it by then.

My server is running Win2003 on SQL 2000.

I have shown the cut-down version of the original query:

***************************************************************CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.sp_getmyitems(@CurrentPage tinyint,@PageSize int,@TotalRecords int OUTPUT)AsSet NoCount ON

Declare @FirstRec intDeclare @LastRec intSet @FirstRec = (@CurrentPage - 1) * @PageSizeSet @LastRec = (@CurrentPage * @PageSize + 1)

Create Table #TempTable(LocalItemID int IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,ItemID int,Title varchar(250),)

Insert Into #TempTable(ItemID,Title)SELECT ItemID, TitleFROM tbl_Items

Select ItemID,TitleFrom #TempTableWhere LocalItemID > @FirstRec AND LocalItemID < @LastRec

Select @TotalRecords = Count(*) FROM #TempTableGO

**************************************************************Thank you