RESIDENTS have pledged to fight on after councillors voted to declare a path out-side their homes a right of way.

Durham County Council will now seek an order to include the path at High View, Ushaw Moor, on the definitive map of public paths.

But the High View residents who want to keep it private plan to object to the order, which would trigger a public inquiry.

They hope to convince the inquiry inspector of their case after failing to win the support of the council's highways committee.

Residents' spokesman Jim Haggett said: "I knew what to expect. I think the committee's decision was a formality."

The path, which is private land, runs past the front of 35 houses, but has been used as a short cut to shops, a doctors' surgery and pubs.

Some residents have tried to close it to public use, saying it should only be used by them and people they allow on it.

They want it closed because they say that it attracts, thieves, vandals and rowdy youths.

The committee heard the path had never been officially designated a right of way, but there was evidence from some villagers it had been used by the public for more than 20 years, making it eligible for designation.

Council solicitor Claudine Freeman said the residents' arguments about nuisance, the state of the path and the fact it was private land could not stop it being a right of way.

James Moralee, 74, of Ushaw Villas, who supported the path being a public right of way, said he was delighted with the committee's decision.

"There are only a few who want a few to close off the path. It's always been a path in my 40 years at Ushaw Moor," he said.