VILLAGERS living close to an experimental genetically modified crops site are to hold a referendum on whether they want the trials carried out in the area.

A meeting in Oakenshaw Workingmen's Club, in County Durham, also asked GM foods company Aventis to postpone the beginning of the trial until residents had had a chance to vote on the issue.

The emergency meeting had been called to hear the biotechnology company's arguments for GM crop trials after worried residents heard modified oilseed rape is to be planted near the village.

The crops are to be planted as part of a three-year research programme by the biotechnology company, but a large group of villagers made it clear they did not want it.

Both Aventis and the Department of Trade and Industry pulled out of attending the public meeting just hours before it started.

But farmer Richard James, who is planting the crops, attended to hear the arguments against GM crops.

Carol Kearney, from Friends of the Earth, said the pesticide used had been found to kill micro-organisms in the soil, and that independent research has found cross-pollination with normal crops at 4,000 metres from trial sites.

The separation distance in these trials is only 100 metres.

A statement from Aventis read out during the meeting, claiming that 95 per cent of pollen stayed in the fields, was met with laughter.

Mr James told the meeting: "My personal view is that it is leading edge technology and everybody will be eating it next year."