VOTERS last night overwhelmingly backed calls for a landmark pub to be saved from demolition in the first parish referendum to be held in Darlington.

Campaigners who have long battled to stop the White Horse Hotel, in North Road, being pulled down and replaced by 55 apartments, hailed the result a success.

They were furious at Darlington Borough Council's decision last year to grant planning permission for the scheme.

A total of 403 people cast their votes over a five-hour period yesterday afternoon and into the night.

Just before 9.30pm, the council's returning officer, Peter Kearsley, announced the result of the poll - 391 against the demolition of the pub and ten in favour.

Two votes were said to be spoiled and were, therefore, rejected.

But the referendum result is not legally binding on the council - and town hall officials last night reiterated their insistence that the matter was now firmly in the hands of the developer.

They say that objectors should take their case up with the developer, as the planning application was considered and granted in accordance with national guidelines.

However, Gill Cartwright, of the Save the White Horse campaign group which forced the referendum, said the result was a victory for local people and pledged that the fight would continue.

More than 1,100 residents of the Whessoe parish had been eligible to vote in the referendum and campaigners were out in force throughout the day, encouraging people to have their say.

As the polling station - ironically the White Horse pub itself -' opened at 4pm, protestors hung banners and waved placards.

Mrs Cartwright said: "I'm just overwhelmed that so many people came out to vote and by the strength of feeling in this community.

"More than a third of the people eligible to vote did so and it just shows the council how strongly we want to keep this pub and hotel. The fight has to go on now. We have got to get the planning permission quashed."

Campaigners have already begun the process of taking the matter to the High Court.

Many residents waiting outside the pub for the result said they had been disappointed that a postal vote had not been available.

But both the borough council and Whessoe Parish Council argued that the poll was a waste of time and money.

The parish authority will be hit with the £1,000 bill for the referendum - a poll which it did not support.

A borough council spokesman said last night: "The poll was an expensive exercise and the outcome is not binding on either the parish council or the borough council. The result has no bearing on the future of the pub."

The pub has produced leaflets telling people: "The best way to save The White Horse is to use it."

It said the campaign was speeding up the closure, as many people were led to believe it had already shut.