PROTESTORS opposed to plans to create an opencast coalmine in north Durham are holding a demonstration in London this week.

UK Coal, which wants to extract 556,000 tonnes of coal from the Bradley site, near Leadgate, Consett, is appealing the outcome of a public inquiry at the High Court.

Opponents will be asking the judge to uphold earlier rulings against plan, which was originally rejected by Durham County Council.

Campaigner Richard Marks said: “We do not want a coal mine in this beautiful area.”

“We hope that this hearing will give local people peace of mind that this area will not be opencast.”

Northumberland County Council is next month expected to decide on a controversial planning application from the company to remove more than two million tonnes of coal at Whittonstall.

Planners in Gateshead are also considering plans to extract more than a million tonnes of coal and 175,000 tonnes of fireclay from land between Stanley and Marley Hill.

Last month, Government ministers were discussing the prospect of nationalising the company following reports it was in financial difficulty.

But UK Coal has insisted it is business as usual as far as its existing planning applications are concerned.

A company spokesman said: “We’ve appealed the decision made by the planning inspector at the public inquiry on the grounds that he misunderstood planning guidance.

“If we win the case it will allow us to take the application before another planning inspector at public inquiry.”