PEOPLE have renewed their fight against a supervised housing scheme in their community.

The project involves using a home In Prince's Street, near Bishop Auckland town centre, as a shared accommodation where young people between 16 and 25 can learn to live independently with supervision.

Three Rivers Housing Association, which is behind the project, has said that it will not house young offenders.

But people living near the property fear the true intentions of the scheme will not become apparent until it is under way.

Residents formed an action group to fight the proposal and achieved a small victory in January when part of the project was knocked back.

The association was refused planning permission to build three flats on Braithwaite Street, which would accommodate more youngsters under the scheme, which is being run by the Depaul Trust.

It was rejected by councillors because of fear for personal safety among neighbouring residents, who feared it would house trouble-makers.

The action group wants the house to be used for some other form of social housing, such as a home for the elderly or disabled.

They also say the house conversion needs planning permission because it constitutes a change of use from residential accommodation, because paid employees will live on site.

Under planning laws, converting a property to a house- share does not require permission.

Joyce Wilson, of Prince's Street said: "We still want Three Rivers to look for a different client group of people to live in the house. Mentally disabled people or other groups are no problem to us.

"The community is still 'living in fear' of this development, which is only yards from the Braithwaite Street property where planning permission was turned down for this very reason."

The housing association has maintained the young people to be housed are vulnerable because they do not have support from their families, and the association is obliged to ensure the safety of young, vulnerable tenants.

It says it will investigate the objections from residents and hopes to hold discussions with them.