COUNCILLORS have given the go-ahead for a two-storey block of six flats in Hurworth, despite objections from villagers and the parish council.

Residents said the flats, on the site of the former Church View Garage, were not in keeping with the conservation area and would "stick out like a sore thumb".

Although the original plans were modified to scale down the proposed buildings, objectors still felt they were too big and would dominate the surrounding terrace houses. They believed two or three cottages with gardens would be more in keeping with the area.

Protesters were also worried about what they saw as inadequate parking provision and the danger of vehicles reversing on to the main road.

One resident, who spoke on behalf of the objectors at Wednesday's planning committee meeting, called for the matter to be deferred for a site visit.

But members voted to accept the planning officers' recommendation to approve the scheme.

CCTV may keep eye on mart after asbestos fear

CLOSED circuit television could play a part in keeping children out of Darlington auction mart.

Talks were held between the borough council's health and safety officials and the mart management on Wednesday, after reports that children had been playing with asbestos.

They are believed to be breaking into the site and vandalising it with bricks from a derelict wall on council property. They are also going in and playing in a pile of sand.

A concerned father, Peter Gray, who lives in nearby Park Lane, alerted the authorities after finding his daughter had been using asbestos off the roof to dig in the sand.

A council spokesman said: "We are going to give the mart management advice and guidance on how to tweak their system to ensure any clean-up operation is done safely.

"We are also looking at using the CCTV cameras at Bank Top station to monitor the situation."