A CONTROVERSIAL car boot sale has been shut down by councillors who ruled a town centre car park was not an appropriate site.

Crowds regularly flocked to the Sunday morning events at Bondgate Car Park, in Bishop Auckland, but its popularity sparked rows with nearby residents who said their quality of life was being ruined.

Many of the residents turned out in force to a meeting of Wear Valley District Council's development control committee this week to urge members to vote against the event continuing.

Paula Barker, whose home lies in the bottom corner of the car park, told councillors that access to her property was blocked every Sunday and that she had to call the council regularly to come and collect rubbish dumped over her garden wall.

The committee voted unanimously against the bid.

Afterwards John Noble from Nobles Amusements said that he was disappointed by the outcome but was not surprised. He said: "I think we need to be looking for more appropriate accommodation and that is what we are going to do.''