VILLAGERS have told a parish council it does not have a mandate to continue with what they call over-ambitious plans to build a sports pavilion.

A heated meeting at Heighington Village Hall, near Darlington, was attended by scores of people opposed to the scheme in a field in Hall Lane.

Planning approval was given for the development on Wednesday, despite 109 letters of objection.

Parish councillors intended to apply to the Football Foundation for funding.

But on Thursday, at the annual parish meeting, villagers criticised the council for more than two hours and demanded a public meeting.

The council says it has the support of the majority of the village, based on a survey it carried out in 2001, when 70 per cent of people said they wanted changing facilities and an improved playing surface.

But resident Arthur Marshall said another survey had been carried out by objectors.

It found that more than 80 per cent of respondents did not support the plans.

"We are trying to engender some discussion," he said, adding that the proposed pavilion would resemble a lavatory block.

Objectors fear that the pavilion and a fence around the field would ruin the village's rural look.

They are also concerned that if Football Foundation funding is given it could lock the village into a complicated 21-year deal.

Lawrence Petterson said: "The village might have to pay a significant financial outlay or lose the field that they fought so long to obtain."

Sharron Marshall said: "The issue that galvanized us is the concern surrounding the application to the Football Foundation.

"You are my parish council, you are doing this for me, but you are not doing it with my consent."

Ward and parish councillor Gerald Lee admitted the parish council might have been too ambitious.

But he said the scheme was in the best interests of all. Members of Heighington Football Club also spoke in favour of the development.

Coun Lee said if the Football Foundation deal was "onerous" there would not be "a hope in hell that I will sign it".

The parish council will decide whether to continue with the plan at its meeting on Thursday, at 7pm, in the village hall.