VILLAGERS have blocked council plans to sell open land for housing.

Durham City Council's development control committee voted against granting outline planning permission for two pieces of land south of Wood View, Croxdale.

The council wanted to sell the land to a developer to ease its cash crisis.

The application, one of five by the authority, met strong opposition from residents.

They feared that they would lose a safe play area for their children, and argued that any proposed development would spoil the village's character, reduce their privacy and generate more traffic.

After making a site visiit, councillors dismissed the application, despite a recommendation to support the scheme being put forward by council planning officers.