COUNCIL officials have insisted that a Darlington school will receive a large proportion of the money from the sale of its playing fields.

Approval was given earlier this year for part of Longfield School's playing field in to be sold for development.

But Royston Lowther, who lives near the school was shocked to read a Darlington Borough Council cabinet report suggesting that only five per cent of the proceeds of the sale would go to the school.

He said: "I am against any development on the school field because I think it will have a negative impact on people living here. But I was shocked to see that such a small amount of money from the sale would go to the school."

The report refers to the sale of the redundant running track and hockey pitch at the school.

It reads: "A small proportion of any capital receipt realised from the sale of the redundant running track and hockey pitch is required to fund proposed improvements and new facilities at Longfield School. The works have yet to be designed but the cost is unlikely to exceed five per cent of the likely total capital receipt."

But yesterday, a council spokesman said much more than five per cent of any sale value would go to the school.

He said: "The five per cent is for a project already planned to provide new playing fields so the school does not lose out.

"However a larger percentage will go on other projects at the school which have yet to be finalised.

"An announcement will be made on other expenditure in due course."