A PETITION objecting to delays to a multi-million pound town centre expansion plan has been presented to the council.

More than 3,000 names have been collected on the document protesting about the lack of progress on the scheme in Newton Aycliffe.

The long-awaited £25m expansion plan includes a Tesco supermarket and car park, an urban park with new youth centre, 20 retail stores, a new library, health centre and elderly people's drop-in centre.

Durham County Council, Great Aycliffe Town Council, Sedgefield Borough Council, developers CTP and Tesco have all approved the redevelopment.

But existing town centre owners Daejan Holdings has objected to the scheme, which has put the whole plan in jeopardy. The stalemate is such that it could end up in a legal battle which could take months or even years to resolve.

The petition was handed over to Coun Bill Waters, cabinet member for regeneration at Sedgefield Borough Council, at the council offices in Spennymoor on Monday.

Coun Hogan said: "The petition is now going to be presented to Daejan Limited, to let them know the strength of feeling on the town."