A COUNTRYSIDE conservation group has added its weight to a campaign to prevent the creation of an opencast coal mine that will affect villages in north west Durham.

UK Coal is due to submit a planning application later this year to mine two million tonnes of coal at Whittonstall, on the Northumberland side of the border with County Durham.

Opposition groups fear the effect heavy industry will have on the communities of Ebchester, Hamsterley, Leadgate and Castleside, near Consett.

They are being supported by the Northumberland branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.

Janet Somerville, chairman of CPRE Northumberland, said: "This is a beautiful and tranquil area of open countryside.

"The idea that it could be turned into an opencast mining site is frightening. rural Northumberland has vast reserves of coal and if this site goes ahead it could be the thin edge of the wedge which will see much of he the country despoiled."

"CPRE will be adding its voice to the many already raised in protest against this new application."

Northumberland County Council is also expected to discuss another plan to site three 110 metre-high wind turbines on the edge of Whittonstall.

Villagers have previously fought off two proposals for a large opencast mine in 1978 and 1984.

Councillor Watts Stelling, who represents Leadgate and Medomsley on Durham County Council, said: "It is a massive site and this is unbelievable.

"It is a rural setting and the countryside is really nice.

"They say they will put it back the way it is now but why spoil it?

"It will never by the same again. It will be sterile."

David Shields, a moderator for the Pont Valley Network, welcomed the support of the CPRE.

He said: "We will work with anyone who will support us in opposing this.

"We do not want a big hole in the countryside.

"It will do an enormous amount of damage and send the wrong message out.

"If they start coal mining again it spread throughout the valley."

If it is given the go-ahead, UK Coal claims the project will create at least 50 jobs for around seven years.