PEOPLE living at the north end of Darlington last night declared their intention to fight plans to demolish a renowned pub and hotel.

A public meeting to organise opposition to a scheme to pull down the White Horse Hotel, in Harrowgate Hill, attracted dozens of residents.

Premier Homes UK has submitted plans to the borough council for the pub and hotel to be demolished to make way for a development of flats.

The firm wants to create 24 one-bedroom and 40 two-bedroom flats on the site, but the plans have been greeted by anger in the local community.

The meeting in Whessoe village hall was organised by the parish council, which put the plans on display to the public last week.

About 100 people turned out for the meeting - with unanimous disapproval for the scheme.

They heard that the parish council would be contacting Darlington Civic Trust in an effort to seek its support, while the advice of an organisation called Planning Aid North would also be sought.

The group offers professional advice on planning issues to people and communities who cannot afford to hire a consultant. At the meeting, resident Michael Cartwright was chosen to represent the community when the case comes before a Darlington Borough Council planning committee - expected to be on May 11.

Parish council chairman Richard Johnson also urged people to lodge their complaints with the borough's planning department.

"Getting a petition up does not work. Each individual, if they have an objection, needs to fill in a planning application comments form or write letters on an individual basis," he said.

Vice-chairman Malcolm Guy said there had been a pub on the site since about 1858.

Airing their views, many residents said the area would become a traffic nightmare if the plans for more properties were approved. They said an influx of vehicles using roads such as Burtree Lane and Princess Road would bring misery to homeowners.

Residents also claimed the demolition scheme would mean the loss of a prominent Darlington feature.

One woman said: "It is a prominent hotel. If you have somebody coming to Darlington you only have to say 'go to the White Horse' and they know exactly where they are.