RESIDENTS fighting plans for housing on land at Esh Winning, near Durham, are set to step up the pressure on the city council.

The protestors have already gathered a 500-signature petition objecting to an application for outline planning permission with a view to selling the land for housing.

They now hope to prove that the land has been used for recreation for a number of years, thus strengthening their case that it should be kept.

Residents, who have taken their case up with a local firm of solicitors, also hope to prove that a path running through the site designates it as a right of way.

Yesterday was the last day of a consultation period organised by Durham City Council for villagers to comment on the plans.

Pamela Hennigan, who is a member of action committee formed to fight the plans, said: "Some of the older people that have lived here all their lives have always known this land to be open for everybody.

"It has always had a path across as well. I remember as a nine-year-old I used to walk across there."

In past cases, people protesting against developments on open land have been able to scupper such plans by proving that it has a designated use for recreation.

Durham City Council has identified a number of sites for housing development in conjunction with North-East based Haslam Homes.

However, it has already run into problems at one - Ushaw Moor - where residents are similarly objecting to plans for housing.