AN attempt to use a farm in the North-East as a dumping ground for the region's burgeoning fridge mountain looks likely to be rejected.

A recommendation will go before Durham County Council's planning committee tomorrow to refuse permission for the scheme at Hulam Farm, near the village of Castle Eden.

G Forbes and Son wants to import old appliances from Tyneside and Teesside to be kept at a former potato store on the farm. As many as 8,600 old fridges could be held at the site.

New EC regulations that came into force in January mean that fridges and freezers can no longer be dumped in landfill sites until ozone-depleting substances, such as CFCs, have been removed.

There are no facilities in this country at present for removing the gases, and Durham County Council has struck a deal for the appliances to be taken to Germany for disposal.

The council's head of planning, John Suckling, said the fridges would not be processed at Hulam Farm.

An objection has been lodged by the resident of a nearby cottage raising concerns, including the "unsuitable" location and proposed access, noise and dust from lorries and possible fly-tipping.

The firm, which is seeking a waste management licence from the Environment Agency, said the scheme could create three jobs.

But Mr Suckling said the plan breaches the council's proposed waste local plan policy against the "unacceptable importation of waste material into County Durham".