THE row over a planned bail hostel has taken a new twist as an MP once again asked the Home Secretary David Blunkett to intervene.

This is the second time new MP Kevan Jones has accused the County Durham Probation Service of treating the people of Chester-le-Street "with contempt" in communications with the Home Office.

In a letter to the Home Secretary the MP argued that the probation service had failed to consult the people of the town properly.

The Planning Inspectorate is considering evidence and testimony given in a public hearing before making a final decision as to whether the hostel should be built.

But Mr Jones has argued to David Blunkett and his under secretary, MP Beverley Hughes, that the townspeople were not consulted properly.

He said that the probation service's cancelling of a public meeting was unacceptable and that the reason given, that too many people would attend, was also out of line. He said that the probation service had 23 chances to attend residents meetings, but failed to do so and that he had not been consulted properly himself.

He said: "The way in which the probation service has handled this matter has been nothing short of a public disgrace and has caused a lot of anger and ill feeling among local people in Chester-le-Street.

"The unaccountable way the probation service has treated my constituents angers me greatly."

But probation service senior manager Pam McPhee dismissed his claims and said the public meeting had been cancelled because the rooms booked were too small and the probation service was never invited to attend residents meetings.

She said she had complete respect for the public's views