A PUBLIC inquiry will settle a row over a council's plan to evict a man from his caravan next to the A66.

Thomas Walker-Coates lives with his Alaskan malamute dogs on land he owns on the fringes of Sadberge village, near Darlington.

But in February Darlington Borough Council's planning committee refused his application to remain on the land permanently.

Enforcement action was put on hold when Mr Walker-Coates lodged an appeal against the decision and an informal hearing was due to be carried out by the planning inspectorate.

However, a council spokesman said the appeal will now be dealt with at a public inquiry, although no date has been set yet.

Mr Walker-Coates moved into his caravan, on the former RAH Transport premises, in Killinghall Row, Middleton St George, ten years ago.

Last November, the land was sold for redevelopment and he moved to Sadberge.

The council turned down his application to stay, on the grounds that the caravan was visually obtrusive and outside the borough's development limits.