DALES residents are forming an action group to fight a housing plan they say would swamp their remote village community.

With a population of less than 350, St John's Chapel, in Weardale, one of Durham's smallest villages, which has been hit by shop and pub closures and has few opportunities for work.

A public meeting is taking place on Thursday to discuss proposals for 51 homes on three acres of land in the village.

Residents said they were worried that the development could saturate local services and create a dormitory settlement with properties too expensive for Weardale people to buy.

The plans, submitted to Wear Valley District Council by developers Dere Street, include a number of three-storey homes, which residents say are out of character.

The development has also been criticised as being too intensive for the site, which already has outline planning permission and is identified as housing land in the Local Plan.

Resident Paul Cassell, whose Forge Cottage would be next to the new estate, said: "It is completely wrong for St John's Chapel. It will not only disturb the local environment because of the sheer number of properties, but it is completely out of keeping with the local style.

"With 51 homes, it would mean more than 100 extra people in the village. There are no jobs in the area and the only people who could afford to live there would be travelling out to work.

"Access would be through a cul-de-sac in Longdale Grove and this would create traffic problems."

The meeting is being held in the Barrington Hall, at 7pm, and comments made by people who attend will be sent to the district council's planning department.

Wear Valley District and Durham County councillor John Shuttleworth said: "People have told me they are concerned about the scale and character of the proposed development.

"It is important to strike the right balance so that we sustain schools and other local services but do not destroy the character of our communities."

The company could not be contacted for comment last night.