RESIDENTS were yesterday bracing themselves for a fresh battle to save a landmark pub from demolition.

The future of the White Horse Hotel, at the north end of Darlington, is being discussed once again after developers revealed new proposals for the site.

Earlier this year, Premier Homes UK submitted plans to Darlington Borough Council for the North Road pub and hotel to be demolished to make way for a major housing development.

The proposals, which caused an uproar among locals, would have led to 64 apartments on the site.

But the scheme was withdrawn because of concerns about the potential impact on traffic. The borough council said the main problem was a likely "unacceptable increase in traffic around the complex, particularly the Burtree Lane junction".

However, the council confirmed yesterday it had received new proposals from the company. A spokeswoman said: "An application was received last week. It is an application to demolish the existing building and redevelop the site with 21 one-bedroom apartments, 32 two-bedroom apartments and two three-bedroom apartments. Our planning department has received the proposals and will be considering them in due course."

The scheme would also include car parking.

But local protestors said they were preparing to campaign against the development again. The threat to the pub caused controversy last time, with a public meeting called by the parish council attracting about 100 people.

Hundreds of objections were sent to the borough council's planning department, while officials from the Campaign for Real Ale also opposed the closure.

Whessoe Parish Council vice-chairman Malcolm Guy said: "We are having to start all over again. Nobody has seen the plans yet, but it is likely to cause a lot of opposition again."

Mr Guy said an informal meeting of the parish council was expected to take place tomorrow night to discuss the proposals.