DIY tools giant Black and Decker has added its weight to a campaign for a new children's nursery in Spennymoor.

The company, which has a factory and service centre in Spennymoor, has written to the borough council to support a bid by local woman Susan Dunlop to open a new nursery.

Mrs Dunlop, of Green Lane, is seeking to convert a semi-detached house on the street into a private day nursery for up to 25 youngsters.

Those supporting the bid claim the nursery would provide desperately needed child care facilities for Spennymoor.

But council planners say the plan would cause traffic problems as there is inadequate access to the proposed nursery and it would create noise and disturbance for nearby residents.

Spennymoor Borough Council's development control committee, which was being recommended to refuse the plans, has now agreed to defer the application for a site visit by councillors.

A meeting of the committee last week, was told of a letter written by Claire Roberts, director of human resources at Black and Decker. In it she said: "Spennymoor has a shortage of this type of facility where working parents could leave their children to be looked after."

Mrs Dunlop had suggested to the council that she would be willing to reduce the intake to help reduce any problems.

A highways spokesman at Durham County Council said that proposed visitor drop-off bays on the driveway of the proposed nursery would not provide adequate space for getting vehicles in and out safely.

He said: "The property is situated at the end of a very busy road close to the Green Lane Industrial roundabout and opposite a bus stop. The borough council offices are also situated approximately 200 yards away.

"The problem would be the number of vehicles coming to the facility at peak traffic periods."