TRADERS gave their backing yesterday to a big caravan park that wants to stay open for ten extra weeks each winter.

But the plan is likely to meet opposition from local residents.

Business people in Barnard Castle say their takings will be boosted if 200 owners are allowed to spend more time in their caravans on the Lendings site, at Startforth.

It attracts visitors from across the region, but trade falls away in local shops when it closes between October 31 and March 1.

Now it is applying to Teesdale District Council for consent to remain open until mid-January.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "We have to put up with visitors tramping around the place all spring, summer and autumn. Surely we needn't have them in winter as well."

Park manager Kathleen Clark said: "Modern caravans are now much more luxurious, with central heating and double glazing.

"Many owners now have much more leisure time, so they want to keep coming here during November and December, as well as over the new year break. Winters seem milder now, so there is no real reason to keep them away."

Chris Dauber, partner in a furniture firm and director of Teesdale Marketing, a group set up to support local companies, said: "Anything like this which increases spending by visitors has to be welcomed by shops, cafes and other firms.

"We have been working hard in recent years to make Teesdale a year-round holiday destination, rather than just a summer one."

Councillors will discuss the application next month but in the meantime the park will have to close as usual at the end of this month. If a change is approved it will come in to force next year.