A PLAN to create an opencast mine on the border of County Durham and Northumberland appeared to have been blocked last night after councillors unanimously opposed the scheme.

Gateshead Council received petitions with more than 16,000 names and 750 letters in protest at proposals to excavate farmland, near Burnopfield.

The scheme to mine 480,000 tonnes of coal and 100,000 tonnes of clay from the 111-acre site, near the Gibside Estate, over the next three years was one of the most controversial it has ever dealt with.

Hall Construction's plannign application sparked campaigns opposing the project from residents, councillors, community groups and neighbouring authorities.

Representatives told the planning committee at Gateshead Civic Centre yesterday about the intense opposition to the industrialisation of the landscape.

Tony Mee, a spokesman for Derwentside Residents Against the Mining Application, (Drama) said: "There is no environmental gain in this application - only environmental destruction, leaving behind a legacy of dead land that will take 20 years to restore.

"The road to the site is well- known for accidents and there may be possible fatalities as a result if it goes ahead.

"There is also a human rights issue regarding the quality of life of local residents who will be affected."

A last-minute report was submitted to the committee by planning officers, urging it to refer the matter to Derek Quinn, the council's strategic director of development and enterprise, with a view to refusal.

The report said: "Coal extraction should only take place if it can provide the best balance of community social, environmental and economic interests consistent with the principles of sustainable development.

"Given the late submission of information from the applicant, several matters pertaining to ecology, impact of Gibside, hydrology and hydrogeology and soils and agriculture still need to be resolved.

"Given the significance of these issues, it is critical that the responses from English Nature, English Heritage and Defra are received. It would be premature to determine the application without them."

Councillors voted in favour of the recommendation.

Hall Construction did not speak at the meeting and declined to comment afterwards because it is waiting to receive the full extent of the reasons for refusal from the council.