PLANS to concrete over a children's playing field have been put on hold after a campaign by two mothers.

In a rare move councillors agreed they would make up their minds about a 92-space car park on land east of Dixon Street, Blackhill, Consett, in a special meeting immediately after a site visit next Tuesday.

At a council planning meeting at Consett Civic Centre, councillors heard accusations, dismissed by the authority, that work had already begun on the project as a footpath to the new car park had been laid.

Campaigners argue that the new footpath, which would connect the car park to the £1m refurbished Blackhill Park which is due to open on July 13, gave a message to the public that the council had already decided the issue.

Mother of two Sandra Reynolds, campaigning with Dawn Logan-McCance, also told the meeting she had to contact Sport England herself on the council's behalf - even though the authority had a duty to inform Sport England by law.

Sport England originally objected but changed its mind after receiving promises that an adjacent football pitch would be drained by the authority.

Speaking at the meeting Mrs Reynolds said: "The footpath to the proposed car park has been in place at least since the start of the year but we didn't realise where it was leading. A workman working on the restoration of the park, when asked where members of the bowling club would park, advised me there is to be a car park built on the field but they have been told to down tools as 'all hell's broke loose.'

"When a caller rang the council on information on parking on July 13 the caller was told 'there will be a car park built on the field next to the park.'"

Coun Alex Watson, leader of the council, said the footpath was to serve the playing area and would not be a waste of investment even if the car park was not given permission.

Planning officer Fiona Clarke said 46 letters of objection had been sent, with traffic worries a major concern, but recommended approval as the Highways Authority and Sport England had not objected.