ANOTHER 200 carcasses are to be burned on a pyre built for 15 cattle.

The move has caused concern among people living near the site, amid fears over the effects of the burning on human health and the possible risk to traffic from drifting smoke.

A Ministry of Agriculture spokesman said 15 cattle had already been burned on the pyre, at Houghton Bank, on the A68 between Bishop Auckland and Darlington.

But he said the Environment Agency had given approval to burn a maximum of 200 animals on the site.

He said the additional carcasses were being brought in from nearby Witton Gilbert, and the existence of a Site of Special Scientific Interest meant they could not be buried there.

He said no decision had been taken on whether any more animals could be burned at Houghton Bank.

But Victoria Bowman, who can seen the pyre from her Houghton-le-Side home, said: "The smell from the 15 was bad, so it will be much worse from another 200.

"They have not kept us informed about what they are doing, and we want to know how many more are they going to burn there."

Councillor Gerald Lee, whose Heighington ward on Darlington Borough Council includes the pyre site, said there were concerns over the effect of burning on the health of people living nearby.

But John Farquhar, who also lives at Houghton-le-Side, said some villagers accepted the need for the pyre.

He said: "I don't want any burning, but if it has got to go ahead it is probably one of the best sites for it."