A HAULIER has been given permission to run more lorries, despite a neighbour's fear his expansion will hit house prices.

Keith Parks, who runs Parks Haulage, was yesterday given the go-ahead to keep up to eight cabs and ten trailers at his yard, in The Avenue, Burnhope.

During a public inquiry held at Durham Magistrates' Court, Eileen Cox claimed the expansion would damage the value of her home, which she is trying to sell.

Mrs Cox said the extra traffic would increase noise and further damage her view.

"I have no objection to the current vehicles, but I am trying to sell the house," she said. "I believe if there were any more wagons, it would prevent a lot of people buying the house."

A number of other residents have withdrawn objections to the expansion, the inquiry heard.

Parks Haulage employs nine people, moving scrap around the country. It owns five vehicles, run under two licences held by Mr Parks' wife and father.

North-East traffic commissioner Tom MacCartney granted Mr Parks an expanded licence on condition that the two existing licences are surrendered.

Mr MacCartney said: "I suspect Mrs Cox is speaking on behalf of other residents as well.

"It's evident that this is a nice rural area and everyone would like to live in complete peace and quiet in a rural area.

"However, I am influenced by the fact that this has been an operating centre for some years - at least since 1969.

"Mrs Cox chose to buy a plot of land and build a house, knowing it was next door to an operating centre.

"The intrusion that this operating centre creates is an intrusion, but it's not significantly damaging to those residents who live nearby."

Mr MacCartney chose not to impose restrictions on the company's weekend working hours.