STUDENTS have set up a 'solidarity camp' on a threatened piece of common land, to support residents in their fight to stop a car park being built.

Durham University Social Forum has pitched up tents on The Sands riverside area in Durham, nearly half of which is to be turned into temporary parking for 380 cars.

The area would be used for parking for about two years, while the Walkergate leisure development is built nearby. Durham City Council lodged the plans because it feared a loss of parking spaces would otherwise harm city traders.

The proposal has met with strong resistance from residents, who say The Sands was one of the city centre's green lungs, used by people for all kinds of recreation.

But now there is a permanent protest presence on the green, with social forum members camping on the land.

One of the campers, Colum Pawson, said: "Durham University Social Forum does have some contact with local groups and we hope to get them involved as well. But it's nice to have common ground with students and local residents, as traditionally they don't have a relationship."

Mr Pawson said they shared residents' worries that once the area had been gravelled over, it would be difficult to revert the area back to grassland as the council had promised.

They have organised evening and weekend events on The Sands, including barbecues, dancing, banner making, football tournaments and picnics. The camp will stay in the area until next weekend, when the social forum stages three days of seminars on issues from globalism to the environment. The event begins on this Friday, June 20.

The proposal is due to be discussed by councillors at a date yet to be announced, but the residents' action group Save Our Sands has pledged to mount a legal challenge if plans are approved. They say as it is common land, the proposals must go before the Government.

The city council has said rights of way and access for 'air and exercise', as specified in common land legislation, would be maintained.