PEOPLE campaigning against the proposed sale of comprehensive school playing fields are seeking fresh clarification of the plans from education chiefs.

Darlington Borough Council has launched a public consultation exercise after announcing that it intends to sell off land at Longfield Comprehensive School.

The proposals have angered residents living nearby, who believe they would lead to a lack of sporting facilities in the town.

If the plan is approved by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the money generated by the sale could be used to fund the creation of a tennis centre at Longfield.

But residents are campaigning against the idea and are making their views known to the Secretary of State for Education.

Their anger was fuelled last week when the school, in its newsletter, sought to clarify its position on the move.

It said the fields are to be sold to support a National Lottery bid to develop a tennis centre, with hospitality facilities, and the school is working with the Lawn Tennis Association to develop the project.

But one protestor, who asked not to be named, said yesterday: "I'm not sure what they have clarified. Whatever it is, they haven't done a good job of it. The hospitality facilities are not approved of by parents.

"The running track has also been used for events recently, so they can't say it is under-used. We need to know a lot more before we sign these forms."

Protestors are demanding proof that the council has exhausted all other sources of funding before considering the sale of the fields.

They insist that the playing fields are not surplus to requirements and should not be sold.

However, the council insists that it has been working closely with the school to develop proposals to meet the needs of pupils and the wider community.

Residents have until June 14 to respond to the consultation document, which has been circulated.