CAMPAIGNERS fighting for a tougher stand on noise from a motor racing circuit have won another round in their battle for information from the local council.

Resident Derek Watson took four complaints to Richmondshire District Council's standards committee, claiming he did not receive adequate replies to queries posed about Croft Circuit, near Darlington, 14 months ago.

Ater a three-hour meeting, he left with three of his protests upheld.

Last night, Mr Watson said he will forward the committee's findings to the Local Government Ombudsman, alleging maladministration.

Mr Watson, a member of an action group formed by people with homes around Croft Circuit, first challenged the authority in May last year.

He claimed to have seen documents that suggested 38 cars competing in a Formula 3 meeting at Croft did not comply with noise regulations, which the circuit is supposed to adhere to - and yet only two were prevented from racing.

Mr Watson later requested an explanation from the council as to why it had taken no action and his complaints were referred to the standards committee - but, at first, members were asked only to decide if the issues had been dealt with speedily enough.

However, on Monday, the council accepted that the responses given to Mr Watson were also inadequate.

Chief executive Harry Tabiner said it would write to him to give detailed responses to the issues he raised.

"In circumstances where we cannot give the information he has asked for because it relates to legal proceedings and is exempt, we will tell him specifically which parts of his queries we cannot answer and why."