RESIDENTS are demanding a council tax rebate because they say their lives are being made a misery by development work on Darlington Football Club's new stadium.

People in Neasham Road have written to Darlington Borough Council expressing concern about the condition of the area.

They say the roads and footpaths leading to the stadium site are covered in mud and only cleaned occasionally.

Lorries are also travelling down Neasham Road towards the town centre, and residents say mud from these vehicles is spraying on to parked cars.

There have also been complaints that work is starting as early as 6am, which people say is a breach of the planning application.

The Neasham Road Action Group, which campaigned against the building of the multi-million pound stadium, has taken up the case on behalf of residents.

Members of the group are urging people to write letters of complaint to the council, and are planning to submit an application for a council tax rebate.

Jan Mazurk, from the action group, said: "Local residents are up in arms about this and we believe we are entitled to a block rebate.

"Our roads and vehicles are always dirty and we want the council to take action."

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said no planning conditions in relation to the stadium development had been breached, because the actual work to construct the new ground had not begun.

He said Northumbrian Water had been working to divert drains on the site and planning conditions, such as the need to have a wheel wash, had not yet come into effect.

"As soon as construction begins on the stadium, the planning conditions will apply and they will be monitored by the council," he said.

The authority's spokesman declined to comment over the issue of a council tax rebate