RESIDENTS who will be affected by the creation of a £45m shopping complex have launched a petition against the development.

Nearly 200 people have protested against the centre, which will incorporate Darlington's Queen Street arcade.

Plans have been submitted to the borough council for the scheme which it is hoped, if approved, will attract shoppers from across the North-East and North Yorkshire.

It would be built on the Queen Street car park and involve the demolition of the Lounge nightclub and the Regent Housing office buildings.

The centre will be on two levels, with parking on the roof for 230 cars.

It will be connected by a bridge to a 700 space multi-storey car park over the ring road.

But homeowners are angry at the scale of the development, which they say could prove dangerous to children living nearby.

One resident said: "There is already a car park there and we have got a big population of children in our area."

However, developers and the council insist that the development is crucial if Darlington is to compete with other regional shopping centres.