A RESIDENT who started a one-woman campaign to stop toxic fumes spreading across a Darlington housing estate is demanding more action.

Elizabeth Mitchell believes the fumes come from cables and tyres burnt along with other rubbish at the Cleveland Trading Estate, in Albert Hill. She said it created thick, acrid smoke, which caused her to choke and have chest pains.

Earlier this year, she sent letters to residents encouraging them to write to Darlington Borough Council to urge them to take action.

But she said nothing had changed and fly-tippers were still using the area to burn waste.

Mrs Mitchell, 56, said: "You can tell the smoke is toxic because it catches the back of your throat. It is not a healthy place to live.

"People have to shut their windows and can't go out in their back garden. Some neighbours end up with ash on their window sill.

"I keep ringing the council but feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall."

A council spokesman said its environmental health team had stepped up surveillance in the area and residents had been sent forms to keep a diary of incidents.

Mrs Mitchell has also been given contact details of an out-of-hours environmental health officer to report incidents when they happen.

A council spokesman said: "We are relying on residents to keep us informed about what is happening because they are our eyes and ears in the area.

"One of our senior officers will be on call outside of hours so she can contact him and he can visit the site at any time.

"He would need a police escort, because we can't send someone out there on their own in the middle of the night as we don't know who these people are.

"We are doing everything in our power to resolve this issue as quickly and effectively as possible."

Anyone caught dumping household waste can be fined £50 and those dumping trade waste can be fined £20,000 or face six months in jail.

Inspector Billy Hugill, of Darlington police, said: "We haven't got a major problem with this in the town, but we will deal with individual cases.

"We will work with environmental health department to make things better for the people of Darlington."