RESIDENTS on a Ferryhill estate are opposing housing plans on the site of a disused textiles factory.

Dean Bank Residents' Association held a public meeting for people to give their views on future uses of the Praxis Taylor factory site.

The building and surrounding land has been purchased by Sedgefield Borough Council, which intends to build a Sure Start Partnership Family Centre. But there is also a proposal to allocate part of the land for housing, which residents oppose.

Association chairman Dorothy Bowman said: "We had a good turn-out at the meeting and the vote was overwhelming. Nobody wanted housing. What people would like to see is an area of open space, maybe with flowers and grass and seats for the older people."

The views will be passed on to the council, and association members will be making representations at exhibitions on the plans this week.

Dean Bank Primary School is hosting an exhibition tonight from 4pm to 7pm. Further displays will be in Ferryhill Library and the Neighbourhood Watch warden's house for the rest of the week.