THE owners of a Jaguar car repair centre have applied for planning permission to turn it into a scrapyard.

Eurojag repairs cars at Sovereign House, Hurworth Moor, near Darlington.

The company has applied to Darlington Borough Council to be allowed to dismantle vehicles at the site and to store oil, petrol and other fluids from the wrecks.

Waste from the End of Life Vehicle Treatment Centre would be properly disposed of while reusable parts would be recycled for other cars.

People living near to the site oppose the scheme, saying they already suffer from increased industrial activity because of the new Darlington FC football stadium being built nearby.

They have also expressed concern about the area being turned from greenbelt into a predominately industrial site.

A spokesman for Eurojag said: "Under the strict guidelines we feel that our operation and all similar activities can be carried out in a clean, clinical manner within an efficient and visually pleasant environment."

Darlington Borough Council has been recommended to approve the proposal when it meets tomorrow.