Residents have claimed a series of new developments in their village are nothing more than an expensive "white elephant".

People living in Staithes say a new office building is not needed and a new car park in a grassed field has already seen cars being bogged down.

They also say building a children's play area in the middle of the car park is a recipe for disaster.

The project, known as Staithes Gateway, is one of the main parts of the Spirit of Staithes Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Initiative being led by Scarborough Borough Council.

Retired head teacher Brian Beedle, who has lived in Staithes since 1963, said: "We welcome investment in the village because we want more visitors, that is how Staithes makes money, but this is not what we were led to believe that we would be getting.

"The original idea was to provide a safe car park and to improve the whole approach to the village to make it more attractive.

"But now we have got this enterprise building with seven or eight offices. To us, it seems like a big white elephant.

"With the play area being in the middle of a car park there is the obvious danger of having cars near where the children are playing, but also the fear of a child being snatched."

Staithes resident Irene Ward has already collected more than 300 signatures on a petition calling for no further work to be done.

She said: "It just unbelievable that they would build a children's play area in the middle of a car park in this day and age."

But a statement released by Scarborough Borough Council said the enterprise centre had already seen interest from a number of local businesses and would also provide tourist information facilities.

"Following initial consultation with the local community in 2002, the most popular scheme was put forward for development," said the statement.

"The site of the new play area was agreed by the SRB Steering Group and has been laid out by the parish council. The play area is better overlooked than the previous location and the whole site will benefit from a new CCTV system."