RESIDENTS are hoping that a public inquiry will settle a row over a village green.

Members of Durham County Council's licensing and registration committee voted yesterday to appoint someone to head a two-day inquiry into whether the land at Rumby Hill, Crook, should be registered as a village green.

The decision comes almost two years after residents wrote to the council applying to register the land.

They said the area had been at the centre of village activities for more than 20 years and was regularly used for exercising and training dogs and horses.

They also said village parties such as barbecues had been held there and children used it for playing and flying kites.

The land has been fenced off and an objection has been received to the application for turning it into a village green.

The objector disputes the fact that the land has been used for village activities in the way described by other residents.

Councillor Bob Pendlebury, who represents the area on the county council, said that he was not sure who the land belonged to but said he could remember playing there as a child.

He said: "I do remember it being open land and having carnivals and village fairs there.''

Other villagers said the land once had houses on it but had remained empty after they were demolished.

A spokesman for Durham County Council said: "Counsel has provided advice on the quality of evidence to date and has also advised the most appropriate way forward in this case is to hold a public inquiry to test the evidence and give all those involved the opportunity to present their case.

"The ultimate decision on the registration of this land as village green is a matter for the committee.

"However, the assessment of the evidence does require expertise in dealing with witnesses and assessing evidence.''

A date has yet to be set for the hearing but one villager, who did not wish to be named, said he hoped the land would remain open so it could be enjoyed by generations to come.