PUB owners are to appeal after they were ordered to take down a marquee used for family functions.

Jim O'Connor, owner of The Board Inn, at Hill Top, Esh, near Durham, built an overflow car park, children's play area and beer garden without seeking planning permission earlier this year.

He also erected a marquee without obtaining consent.

Mr O'Connor only realised he needed planning permission for the work in May.

Derwentside District Council's development control committee has granted retrospective consent for the bulk of the development but refused permission for the marquee after three residents complained about the noise.

The ruling came despite Mr O'Connor's offer to cancel all the six marquee events with music planned for this year and to spend £10,000 on soundproofing.

Pub manager Chris Herriot said: "We are very disappointed and we will be appealing against this decision."

The pub has already had 23 functions in the marquee and has another 46 bookings, including weddings, charity events and a school ball.

Most of the events do not require music, and the pub does not take bookings for potentially noisy events such as 18th birthday parties.

Mr Herriot said: "I can understand where the neighbours are coming from but we are a family pub and we were willing to stop any event with music until the problem was properly sorted out.

"This decision will cost about 20 young people their part-time jobs."