VILLAGERS have objected to expansion plans by a company wishing to process and store hazardous farming chemicals.

Greatham Parish Council has written to Hartlepool Borough Council objecting to the proposals by Exwold Technology Ltd.

The business, on Brenda Road in the town, wishes to expand after winning a contract to process, pack and sell a solid herbicide for agricultural use.

It has previously only stored them.

The firm hopes to create an additional five jobs, but said it must first get planning permission to change the site's use to include processing and must also have permission to store a greater amount of the chemical.

Technical director Peter Webb said there was nothing for residents to worry about.

He said the herbicide was commonly used, and would be in solid form. As a result, it would not be a danger to people in the area.

However, that was little comfort to the parish council.

Council Chairman Brian Walker said: "This is going to be yet another addition to the growing cocktail of dangerous chemicals that are being stored in the vicinity.

"This is just one more nail in the coffin.

"There used to be a village down there called Greythorpe, but it was eventually cleared and everyone was moved out because of all the heavy industry, such as Hartlepool Power Station and Huntsman (close to Seaton Carew).

"We don't want something like that happening as industry creeps closer and closer to Greatham."

But Mr Webb said there would not be a problem.

"It's not hazardous and it's not toxic and there is definitely not going to be any waste. This is commonly used to kill weeds," he said.

"It's purely the amount of it that means we need permission, along with the processing. It's hazardous to the environment if you put a lot of it in one place at a time, but we will simply be processing it, packing it and getting it off site quickly."

English Nature said the application was not likely to cause damage or disturbance to the area, but the Environment Agency said that while it did not object, conditions should be put in place.

Planners have recommended both applications be granted, with conditions. They go before Hartlepool planning committee on Wednesday.