RESIDENTS living in the shadow of a soil embankment which they say threatens their homes are to hold a meeting tonight.

Homeowners on The Fieldings estate, at Consett, County Durham, say the mound has blanked out light from their homes and poses a serious risk of collapse, especially if it rains.

Gateshead firm Haslam has piled up the soil in order to build more than 50 homes on the site.

Residents say they do not have a problem with the development - just the earth embankment that has already been seen to slide.

Hilary Ramshaw has helped organise the meeting and lives on the estate.

She said: "It is the fact we will be left with a permanent feature that is at least 20ft tall at the back of our houses that worries us.

"Also, we have already seen landslips on the mound after just the slightest rainfall."

The meeting, at 7.30pm in Consett Police Club, next to the police station, is open to the public.

Representatives from Haslam and Derwentside District Council planning department have been invited.