PARISH councillors will press Teesdale District Council to take legal action against developers who own part of a derelict school site.

Gainford parish councillors are angry at a letter sent to them from Kebbell Homes, owner of part of the St Peter's School site.

Earlier in the year, Teesdale District Council had asked those responsible to tidy up the site by removing shrubbery and debris, covering up manholes and either demolishing or renovating one building which had been the subject of an arson attack.

This was in response to a complaint from the parish council.

Blackthorn Homes, which owns part of the site, has begun to secure the windows and doors, but Kebbell's buildings remain largely untouched.

In a letter to the parish council, Kebbell said the work that the district council had asked them to carry out was "not reasonable".

"It is not viable to undertake the clearing of the site when we are not aware of the future of the site with regards to planning policies," the letter said.

"We are anxious to secure a resolution, but require a long-term solution, not a short-term fix."

Wendy Withers, chairwoman of the parish council, said: "I feel quite insulted by that reply."

Several ideas were discussed at this week's parish council meeting, including the possibility of a public meeting.

The parish council agreed to write to the district council's chief executive, Neil Stokell, encouraging him to push ahead with legal action.