FURIOUS residents spoke of their disgust yesterday after a plan to open a youth centre on a Darlington estate was approved.

Elm Ridge Methodist Church is to open the centre in September, to try to solve the problem of anti-social behaviour outside the shops in Fulthorpe Avenue, Mowden.

Philip Clarke, from the church, told Darlington Borough Council's planning committee that it was a visionary strategy, which aimed to "creatively address the problems relating to young people".

But resident Clifford Field said the centre would exacerbate the vandalism, noise, hooliganism, drug-taking and drinking that went on outside the shops.

"Establishing a place like this will be a honeypot," he said.

"You will get people in from all over.

"I think the people of Mowden are now turning and saying enough is enough. We want to live in our homes with peace and quiet."

Mr Field was representing 67 people, many of them elderly, who signed a petition opposing the centre.

Mowden ward councillors Ron Lewis and Bill Stenson also spoke out against the plan.

Councillor Lewis said: "We feel the proposed location for the centre is not suitable for the project and may bring more problems than it solves."

Mr Clarke said the centre, in a former newsagents, would be deliberately over-staffed so that youth workers could speak to teenagers causing trouble outside.

"The approach will be relational not confrontational," he said.

"The progress of the centre and any difficulties arising will be closely monitored."

Councillor Glen Reynolds moved that a change of use for the shop be approved.

He said: "I very much commend this application. These are problems created by our communities and need to be solved in our communities."

The committee voted six to two in favour of the plan, which had the backing of police.

Resident Rita Sproat said after the decision: "I'm really, really disgusted. I live just doors from the proposed site and I am absolutely fuming.

"The councillors don't have to live with the youths hanging around outside their homes, swearing, urinating and frightening people."

The centre will initially open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for an 18-month trial period.