THE managers of an award-winning restaurant have been accused of allegedly arranging noisy deliveries as people in neighbouring properties try to sleep.

Those living close to the two Michelin Star Raby Hunt Inn, in Summerhouse, near Darlington, claim lorries delivering ingredients have begun unloading as early as 5.30am.

The claims were made as Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee approved a number of changes to the grade II listed building, including the removal and replacement of an extraction system and an erection of stone wall and timber gates.

David Coates, the council’s principal planning officer, said the extractor fan was an “inappropriate addition to a listed building” and the “monstrosity” should be removed.

But the main concern from neighbours was the reduction in height of a stone boundary wall, which had been carried out while work was done on the restaurant’s kitchen earlier this year.

They claimed the reduction in height had “affected their security” and had seen a rise in visual and noise pollution.

“When the wall was knocked down, we were told it would be replaced,” said one neighbour.

“I have had to put security lights on my garage, remove the lights off my trees because people are attracted to them, and I am in the process of buying security cameras.

"We moved here for peace and quiet – we did not move for deliveries at 5.30am. We want the place to be successful, but there has to be consideration given for the village.”

Councillor Gerald Lee said he had never known deliveries to any restaurant at 5.30am “in all my years on the council”.

Restaurant owner Russell Close said he had only ever had once complaint about early morning noise, and that was due to rubbish collection.

He said: “When we took this project on, we promised to look after this grade II listed building. There has to be a certain amount of noise for a business of this nature.”

Cllr Paul Baldwin, chair of the meeting, said he would raise the concerns with the council’s environmental health team.