CHURCH leaders yesterday set out their case to overcome the stumbling block hindering plans for a £3m village school.

Proposals for the primary school in Middleton St George, near Darlington, have been drawn up by the Church of England.

The school would be known as St George's CE Aided Primary School, and take pupils from the village and nearby Sadberge.

The scheme was devised to replace the original school building, which was badly damaged by fire in an arson attack in February last year.

The plans were put to Darlington Borough Council's planning committee last week, but they could not be approved after sports chiefs made their objections known.

Sport England, the body that delivers the Government's sporting objectives, has raised concerns about playing fields being lost as a result of the development.

The objection caused a delay because councillors were unable to give planning consent. Instead, it was decided senior officers should continue talks with Sport England to seek a solution.

Only if an agreement can be reached and the complaint is dropped can planning permission be given.

A council spokesman confirmed that the local Church of England diocese had submitted its case to Sport England yesterday.

"They have submitted their case to Sport England, with mitigating circumstances for the loss of playing fields, and that is where we stand at the moment," he said.

It is understood that a response from Sport England could take several weeks.

If the impasse cannot be resolved, the application would have to be referred to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, for a decision.

School officials have stressed that there is no more space available on the site, because the building cannot be made any smaller.

They also say there would be adequate sporting facilities, with hard and grass surface play areas, a football pitch and running track.