CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to build flats in the West End of Darlington say they have fresh ammunition for their battle.

Shepherd Homes wants to build 41 flats in the wooded grounds of Greystones, a Victorian Villa in Carmel Road North.

A similar application was rejected by councillors in April after protestors wrote 250 letters, the biggest objection ever registered to a single development in the town.

This time, the local authority has received more than 450 individual letters of objection.

The objectors are also armed with an ecological survey which urges Darlington Borough Council to reject the application and leave the woodland undisturbed.

The report says the sudden loss of trees would have a devastating impact on the resident wildlife, including bats.

The objectors also have the support of Darlington MP and Health Minister Alan Milburn.

He has received planning guidance notes from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, which objectors say supports their case.

Mr Prescott says the Government encourages local authorities to "develop a shared vision with local communities...and adopt policies which create places with the needs of people in mind".

Carmel Road resident David Hayward said: "We have 450 letters representing about 1,000 people, and in our view this shows absolutely irrefutable evidence that the people of Darlington do not want this damaging development.

"We claim it will be totally out of character with the area. It will destroy a unique area of urban woodland and will also destroy the character of a fine Victorian mansion, which five blocks of flats will totally surround."

The planning application will be considered at a meeting at Darlington Town Hall next Wednesday, which about 200 objectors are expected to attend.

Council planning officers are expected to recommend approval of the application, but objectors hope the weight of public opinion will count in their favour.

A spokesman for Shepherd Homes said: "We have made our submission and it has all been heard before.

"Rather than pick up any particular issue taken out of context, or any debatable point, we will leave it to the democratic planning process.

"We are confident the proposed development is appropriate and very much in line with the planning guidelines, on which we have been working closely with the planning authority.