RESIDENTS have pledged to continue their campaign against waste tipping in a disused quarry, despite winning a fight against toxic dumping at the site.

Waste company Biffa has withdrawn its controversial application to deposit "special waste", including some hazardous materials, in the former limestone quarry in Houghton-le-Spring, on Wearside.

But in a deal agreed with Sunderland City Council the quarry will now be used as a landfill site for non-hazardous household waste from homes across Wearside. The city's waste previously went to a site at Kibblesworth, near Gateshead, which is now full.

Members of the campaign group, Residents Against Toxic Site (Rats), while delighted that hazardous material will not now be dumped in the quarry, believe the quarry is unsuitable for any form of landfill waste.

They fear it could contaminate underground aquifers, posing a threat to local water supplies.

Rats chairman Colin Wakefield said: "Today's announcement is very good news, but it is a little tainted by the fact that the city council is going to dump huge amounts of domestic waste on the site.

"Permission was granted for household waste dumping as far back as 1984, but knowledge on domestic waste has increased gradually since then, and a study carried out proves it unsuitable from a geological point of view.

"Domestic waste was also very different in 1984. The council burned local waste and Houghton was not a smoke-controlled area then.

"Domestic waste was ash, bottles and cans. It is now nappies and the like, and I am sure people do not want that tainting their water supply."

Sunderland council's environment director, William Ault, said the arrangement, due to start next week, would help to complete the landfill much quicker.

John Dresser, of Biffa Waste Services, insisted last night the site was safe as a landfill facility.