Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds faces a planning battle with council officials in his bid to use his new football stadium as a concert venue.

Mr Reynolds says he wants to book pop legends The Bee Gees to help celebrate the opening of the club's new stadium.

And he wants the 1970s chart-toppers to lead the way for other big-name stars to perform at the 25,000 seat stadium.

However, strict conditions applied to the stadium mean he does not have planning permission for rock concerts - and council sources have indicated that he is highly unlikely to get it.

One of the conditions placed on the stadium when planning permission was granted in 2000 specifically prohibits such a use.

Mr Reynolds, who hopes to have the ground open by the end of the year, said he intends to play by the rules and apply for permission before staging concerts.

"Yes, we will put concerts on if we are allowed planning permission," he said, adding that if planners rejected his bid for a variation to the condition, no concerts would be staged.

"We hope to get everything going, if we can, to make things stable. Things in football have changed with the digital money going down. Every club around the country is fetching in different revenue."

Residents are certain to object to a request for a variation on conditions for the stadium.

Darlington Borough Council leader John Williams declined to comment on the matter because he sits on the authority's planning committee, which would have to consider any applications to stage concerts.

However, John Buxton, director of development and environment, said: "The council has clearly stated in the planning permission granted to Darlington Football Club that concerts/music will not be permitted.

"If an application is submitted to vary these clauses, the planning applications committee would clearly take proper account of why the clauses were included in the first instance, as well as consider any information provided by an applicant, objectors and other representations when coming to a decision."

Local resident Janet Mazurk, who was a member of the Neasham Road Action Group which originally objected to the plans, said: "Local people will ensure that the council abides by the planning conditions that were set out at the time. We feel very strongly."