Newton Aycliffe residents have been urged to make their feelings known about a dispute which could stop a proposed town centre extension.

The long-delayed £25m expansion scheme has been thrown into doubt and may result in a legal battle which could take years to resolve.

Proposals include building a Tesco supermarket and car park, an urban park with a youth centre, about 20 retail stores, a new library and health centre, and an elderly people's drop-in centre.

Durham County Council, Great Aycliffe Town Council and Sedgefield Borough Council, with Developer CTP and the Tesco chain, have all given their backing to the redevelopment.

But the owners of the existing town centre, Daejan Holdings, has objected to the scheme, which has put the proposals in jeopardy.

The partners are now considering seeking a compulsory purchase order to break the deadlock.

Durham county councillor Terry Hogan, chairman of the town centre forum, was joined by fellow councillors Bill Blenkinsopp, Don Fraser and John Dormer, in Newton Aycliffe Library, yesterday.

They met Newtonians to explain the situation, urging them to voice their protests to Daejan and sign a petition.

Coun Blenkinsopp said the members hope to present the petition, which already has 2,500 names, to Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is also the area's MP.

He said: "We want to make the town centre owners aware that the people of Newton Aycliffe are not going to stand for it any longer.

"I am going to approach John Burton, the Prime Minister's agent, to see if our MP will discuss this with them. We are going to ask Sedgefield council leader Brian Stephens to take the chair.

"All we want at the end of the day is the best for Newton Aycliffe and if anybody can swing it, he's the man."