JUBILANT campaigners have won their battle to protect a Guisborough green space from being turned into a car park.

They have scrapped a mass rally planned for tomorrow when they intended to tie yellow ribbons around the trees they wanted to protect.

To their relief, Redcar and Cleveland Council agreed in principle on Wednesday to buy the former Blackett Hutton foundry site in Guisborough, which completes the first vital stage in plans to transfer the council's workforce there from Cargo Fleet.

Protestors had feared the council might go for a site on the opposite side of Rectory Lane, which would eat into the Beck Side green space.

The council always insisted the foundry site was its preferred choice but it had to have a second option in case it fell through.

The site's market value also had to be vetted by the government which is supporting the project through the Private Finance Initiative.

Coun David Walsh, council leader, said it had been a difficult time for all concerned but was delighted to announce the agreement in principle. "We have always understood the anxieties of local people over the potential threat of losing part of the open space at Rectory Lane," he said.

"Now we hope everyone can support the scheme to bring these offices to Guisborough, which can only be a big boost for the town."

The Beckside park protest group had mobilised the town into a tough campaign. A petition of more than 6,000 signatures was handed in to the council and Middelsbrough South and East Cleveland MP, Dr Ashok Kumar, joined the fray this week.

He wrote to council chief executive, Mr Colin Moore, saying he backed the residents in their call for the green wedge to be preserved.

Campaigner, Mr Stuart Burns, told the D&S Times yesterday: "We had public opinion behind us. Half the people in Guisborough signed the petition. The next stage will be to go for a covenant on the land."

Contact had been made with local and national environmental agencies which shared the concerns over the ecological impact of the 180-space car park