CHILDREN are likely to be bored by stuffy planning issues - but not three Stanley school pupils.

The pocket-sized protestors were so concerned about possible developments near their homes that they designed a poster telling planners and developers not to forget them.

Laura Hindmarsh, 11, Carl Hide, nine, and Laura Harris, nine, wanted to remind Derwentside District Council that they should include children and young people in any consultation on the proposed King's Head Field and Murray Park development.

Council officers are to make a decision later this month on the type of development for the greenfield site - it could yet be residential, leisure or retail. Full consultation will get under way when the decision is made.

Margaret Watson, a member of the Stanley Action Group Enterprise (Sage), said: "It's great that children are getting involved in this - it shows they care about their future.

"The poster has the Save Our Field slogan across the top, pictures of play areas and a big red cross through a drawing of a house. They are saying they don't want just houses on the site - they want somewhere to play as well."

The children handed the poster to Derwentside District Councillor Janice Docherty at a recent public meeting and it is expected to be displayed in the Civic Centre foyer, at Consett.