PARISH councilors are to meet tonight to discuss plans for a £100m industrial estate next to their village.

A planning application has been submitted to Darlington Borough Council to create a business park with four warehouses and office units on farmland next to Heighington village.

The London-based developer behind the scheme, Merchant Place, said the plans could create up to 1,000 jobs, but members of Heighington Parish Council are expected to object.

At an exhibition of the plans at last month's parish meeting, councillors outlined concerns to representatives from the firm about the 100-acre industrial estate being too close to the village.

Heighington was named the UK's best village in a BBC heritage TV series last year, and the council wants the village to keep its character.

Parish councillor Val Whitby told the developers at last month's meeting that they were "wasting their time", and should look to build the estate in a more industrial area.

Heighington Parish Council meets tonight at 7pm at Heighington Village Hall.