VILLAGERS have vowed to fight a controversial housing development which they say will ruin open fields near their homes.

People from Middridge, near Newton Aycliffe, also say that the proposals for 270 houses near Spout Lane, Shildon, would be too close to the village meaning that both places would lose their respective identities.

Residents who attended a parish council meeting in the village this week demanded that the council strongly objects to the plans.

Peter Hedley, from Charles Row, said: "There is nothing in this development that I can see that is for the good of Middridge at all.

"They are talking about new footpaths and forests but we have plenty of those around here. They are just creating a playground for local youths.

"This would be the ruination of Middridge if it is allowed to go ahead. We will end up being a suburb of Shildon and I don't want to see that."

Others at the meeting said that they also had concerns about traffic flow and said that the estate would add to problems that already existed.

Residents also expressed an interest to talk to their neighbours in Shildon about the proposals and suggested getting a petition together.

The project by Theakston Estates plans to build "high quality, energy efficient and well-designed houses" and the creation of informal recreation, landscaping and woodland on the farm land.

People living in nearby Thickley Park have already voiced their objections to the development.

The plans are still going through the consultation process and planning permission has not yet been applied for.

Chris Harrison from Nathaniel, Lichfield and Partners, which is acting on behalf of Theakstons, said the company would be taking on board comments from residents in Shildon and Middridge before it submitted its plans to Sedgefield Borough Council