FAMILIES who say they were duped by a housing company have vowed to fight a plan for new homes.

The residents say they were assured by housing developers that no other homes would be built to block their views over the north Durham countryside.

But the building company has applied to build more properties on the small Castlehills Estate, near Consett, which was completed just last year.

Residents also argue that serious traffic safety problems would be caused by the homes, as up to 30 extra cars would have to come out on to the busy road, which links the houses to the A68.

The home owners have already met councillors, and are holding a public meeting in Castleside Village Hall, on Tuesday, at 8pm, so they can question planning officers from Derwentside District Council.

Persimmon managers originally applied to build 160 homes, but were refused on traffic safety grounds. Later plans to build 120 and then 75 houses were submitted, but also rejected.

Eventually, the company was allowed to build 60 homes, but is now applying to add another 15 homes. Derwentside councillors are due to discuss the plans in the coming months.

That has angered some residents who claim they were assured no new homes would be built when they were considering buying the properties.

One resident, retired policeman Alan Andison, argued that traffic problems were, if anything, worse now than when Persimmon was first refused permission to build the semi-detached homes.

He said: "Everyone in the estate and the whole village are angry about this.

"It doesn't affect me too much, but others are very annoyed that they are going to lose their views. We were told there would be no more homes when we came."

Independent ward councillor Gordon Glass said he was unable to comment because he was on the planning committee, but added that he was consulting with his constituents on the issue.

A spokesman for Persimmon confirmed that its original application to build 161 homes had been rejected. He said: "This is a modest application for just 15 homes. We believe the road and junction could easily accommodate the small traffic increase.