COUNCIL planning officials have ordered building work on an animal incinerator to stop until conditions governing its final appearance are agreed.

Enforcement officers from Durham County Council visited the site at Hamsterley, near Bishop Auckland, after local people complained that two chimneys had been put up prematurely.

The development at a knackers yard owned by John Warren (Animal By-Products) on a hillside above Hamsterley Forest was approved by Durham County Council last week despite protests from villagers.

But conditions and guidelines on what materials should be used have yet to be decided by the authority's planning officials.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Durham County Council confirmed the two aluminium chimneys had already been erected on the site, but enforcement officers had told the company to stop work until planning conditions were agreed.

He said: "We are still drawing up the planning conditions and have asked them to stop what they are doing until those conditions have been finalised."

The plant will consist of two incinerators which will be the first in the region to burn animal carcasses, including cattle more than 30 months old considered to be a potential BSE risk.

Jonathan Peacock, who is campaigning against the development, said owner John Warren was acting prematurely, adding: "We have to accept these incinerators are fait accompli and have no realistic expectation of stopping them. But we want it closely monitored.''

Mr Warren was unavailable for comment last night.