ANGRY residents are determined to halt a housing development which they say has not stuck to the original plans.

Residents of Ritson Road, Newton Aycliffe, did not initially object to the development for a block of bungalows on nearby Pease Way.

But now that building work has begun, they say developers are not following the original application for which planning permission was granted. The main concern is over the height of the properties. Residents say the original plan showed that the highest point of the development would be 5.5 metres above existing ground level.

But they say some of the plots are being built on foundations 1.2 metres above ground levels, giving an overall height of 6.7 metres. This, they say, will cause any surface water to run into their gardens when it rains.

Jim Sharp, whose fiancee lives in one of the houses, said: "The planning permission was given for them to be built at a certain height, but now they are just building them at any old height. This is not what we envisaged.

"The original plans did not show they were going to raise ground levels, which will cause water to run off into our properties."

Another concern is a plan to fence off a walkway between Pease Way and Ritson Road, which was also not in the original plans.

Mr Sharp said: "A fence there will make this into a dark alleyway and basically turn it into a muggers' paradise."

Residents have sent several letters to Sedgefield Borough Council asking for the development to be halted, but work has continued.

Mr Sharp said letters to the council have gone unanswered and telephone calls not returned. He said residents now fear a "fait accompli".

Several residents have already written to Prime Minister Tony Blair, the town's MP, and are considering taking their case to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Graham Robinson, the council's press and public relations officer, said: "We are trying to work with the applicant's agent to come up with a solution. We have asked for details from the applicant's agent.

"When we receive those details it is likely we will meet with those who feel aggrieved and show them the details."