A SECOND councillor has backed calls to have a new 149- homes estate incorporated into a different Darlington Borough Council ward.

New streets at Snipe House Farm are to be included within the patch of Hurworth councillors - even though the homes are an extension to Skerne Park, which is in Park East ward.

Hurworth Liberal Democrat councillor Malcolm Dunstone has backed colleague Councillor Peter Freitag and called for the boundaries to be redrawn.

Coun Dustone said residents at the new houses will pay more in council tax unless the boundaries change

He said: "As a ward councillor for Hurworth and Neasham I agree with Councillor Peter Frietag when he states it is not sensible for the future residents of the Snipe House Farm development to be in my ward.

"I imagine the ward boundaries were drawn up many decades ago and made sense at the time. However, I would like to think common sense should prevail and changes should be recommended to the boundary commission to be effective as soon as possible.

"Although the council has said it has no power to change the boundary, surely it can initiate movement on this important issue. Until any change is made, Martin Swainston (Hurworth councillor) and I will look after the new residents' interests."