A COUNCIL is being asked to step into the row over racing at a controversial North-East motor circuit.

The noise emitted from Croft Circuit, near Darlington, has long been a source of contention with people living in the village of Croft and neighbouring areas.

The problem got so bad that Richmondshire District Council brought a noise abatement notice against the circuit, but this has now been dropped following legal advice.

However, Darlington Borough Council could now be brought into the dispute after a ward councillor revealed he has received complaints from people living on the outskirts of town.

Councillor Roderick Burtt said he has been approached by people living in Hurworth, who are becoming concerned about the noise from the circuit.

He also claims that, depending on the weather, the noise travels as far as the West End of Darlington. "I can confirm that the noise has been quite noticeably bad in the last couple of weeks," he said.

"It is not only people in that corner of North Yorkshire that are being inconvenienced by this monstrous noise, because it is now spreading to parts of Darlington borough."

Coun Burtt has now raised the matter with John Buxton, director of environment at Darlington Borough Council, to see if the issue can be raised by the authority.