FAMILIES who staged a sit-in to stake their claim to a cherished patch of grass have won the right to call it their village green.

The seven households in The Hollow, near Crook, spent £4,000 fighting neighbour Fred Wilson over the half-acre field, where they have played football, held bonfire parties, ridden their horses and walked their dogs for more than 20 years.

They built a barricade of cars and vans, and even camped out at night, to stop Mr Wilson staking a claim to the site by fencing it off.

Their legal battle went to a public enquiry last December, when Mr Wilson claimed he had inherited the land from his late father, although he could not produce deeds.

Inspector Vivian Chapman, an independent barrister appointed by Durham County Council, did not accept his claim and ruled in the villagers' favour.

On his advice, the council's licensing committee delighted members of the Hollow Residents' Association yesterday by making the declaration they wanted - that the land was their village green.

Campaigner Maggie Downie said last night: "The first thing we will do is have a big party. We are overjoyed. The land has always been used by the people of The Hollow, and we didn't want to lose it.