GARDENERS are fighting plans to sell former allotment land to a housing company.

The protestors are trying to stop Hartlepool Borough Council from selling the 2.5- acre site.

The land was recently reclaimed by the council, which is trying to find ways to fill a £1.5m projected deficit for next year's budget.

The Briarfields site, off the town's Elwick Road, would be put up for sale to housing developers.

However, Briarfield Allotment Association said it had not given up hope of having the 32 allotments restored after a fight with the council.

A spokesman for the association said it was understood the land was worth a lot of money, but that the gardeners had been treated unfairly.

"We are all very angry," he said.

A council spokesman said the Government Office for the North-East had agreed that Briarfields was surplus to requirements for allotment provision.

A study had shown that the town's allotment gardeners were well-catered.

The issue will be debated at a meeting of the adult services portfolio, in Hartlepool Civic Centre, on Wednesday, at 10am.