COUNCILLORS approved a homeowner's plans to increase the length of his garage, despite many saying they were reluctant to do so.

Wear Valley District Council granted permission for Paul Collinson, of Langley Grove, Bishop Auckland, to add 37.5cm to the length of his garage.

Councillors expressed their dismay that an earlier application to increase the height of the garage to 5.2 metres had been controversially approved at a previous meeting.

However, they had no grounds for refusing the extension to the length and passed it, subject to appeal from locals.

Councillor Alan Anderson said: "We have no objection to anyone having a garage, but the size of this, you could keep six giraffes in it.

"It will have an impact on the rest of the houses. It is like having Durham Cathedral in your back garden."

Chairman Charlie Kay said objections to the height were irrelevant.

Resident Carol Blenkinsopp, of Langley Grove, said the council was wrong to approve the application.