HOMEOWNERS were due to hold a public meeting last night to protest against plans for an £8m college campus.

Derwentside College has secured funding for the move from its Consett site to a location in Project Genesis, where the town's steelworks once stood.

Councillors have passed the plans, but residents at nearby Berry Edge Road say they were not properly consulted, and are complaining that a children's play area will be lost.

The protestors were due to meet with council planning officers and leading members of the college at Consett Station Club, last night.

The college, which employs about 300 staff and has 900 full-time and 9,000 part time students, hopes to complete the centre by late next year.