PLANS to redevelop Darlington's South Park have been put on hold.

Cleveland Bridge, the company that has been granted planning permission to build a pavilion, sports pitches and a car park, has said it has no immediate plans to start the work.

Last week, scores of protestors attended a meeting where amended proposals for the park development were approved by Darlington Borough Council.

But Cleveland Bridge managing director Alan Nightingale said: "As far as I am concerned at the moment, I am not aware that we have received any formal planning approval.

"As far as when work might start, it is certainly not on our immediate radar scan."

The company offered the new park facilities to the borough council in exchange for permission to build houses on land at Geneva Lane. The Geneva Lane plan has since been referred to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Nightingale said: "Until we get all of the green lights from all of the various authorities and departments we do not have any approval to proceed."

A borough council spokesman said there was nothing to stop work starting at the park.

Objector Susan Hughes, of Kingsbury Mews, said Cleveland Bridge's decision would give campaigners a bit of breathing space.

She said: "Maybe it will give us time to get somebody to change their mind about what is planned."

Last Wednesday's meeting, at the council chamber in Darlington Town Hall, descended into chaos as angry residents shouted abuse at councillors. People claimed they were not consulted on the plan and many want to make sure there is no redevelopment of the show field.

Martin Wilson, of Victoria Embankment, urged borough councillors to overturn the original approval, which was granted in June and claimed the application was in direct conflict with several policies contained within the local plan. These claims were dismissed by planning officer Jeremy Smith as irrelevant.

John Buxton, the council's development and environment director, admitted that many residents had not received letters informing them about the scheme, though he said he did not know why.

The borough council has been reported to the Local Government Ombudsman for its handling of the consultation over the South Park redevelopment.