PROTESTORS against a controversial bail hostel have been accused of snobbery at the third day of a public inquiry.

After suggesting more "socially deprived" areas would be better suited to a hostel, County Durham Probation Service bosses branded protestors' views "outrageous and irresponsible".

The row came on the third day of the inquiry into the proposed 25-bed probation service hostel at Chester-le-Street.

About 70 residents crowded into the Red Lion pub to hear protest group lawyer Toby Hedworth say that existing hostels in Bensham, Gateshead, and Pennywell, Sunderland, were in areas that contained "different communities".

He said: "For example, there is a high preponderance of one-parent family groups who may be only too keen to have an institutional neighbour where they can pop in for cups of coffee and have someone to talk to.

"The demography of Bensham and Pennywell is different to Chester-le-Street, and a hostel can be located more easily when there are different groups within the community.

"The amount of crime where they (protestors) live is fairly low and they are convinced that the levels will increase should 25 residents from the bail hostel move into their neighbourhood."

Speaking during a break in proceedings, Professor Robert Williams, chairman of the National Probation Service in County Durham, took the moral high ground on the argument.

He said: "The suggestion has been made by the opposition that crime and anti-social behaviour are more easily tolerated by less affluent communities.

"We find this to be an outrageous and irresponsible view. Crime is never more acceptable in one area than another and all communities deserves protection from crime, regardless of how well off they may be, or how many one-parent families live there."

The fourth and final day of the inquiry has been scheduled for next Thursday.