JUBILANT villagers celebrated after seeing off plans for housing which they said would destroy their community.

Developer Dunelm Castle Homes had applied for planning permission to build 12 homes on the Russell Close garage, near the A691 bypass in Lanchester, near Consett.

Derwentside District Council's development control committee went against planning officers' advice and turned down the application on the grounds that it was outside the main village and would damage the attractive nature of the surrounding open hillsides.

Councillor Ossie Johnson, one of the ward members on the district council, said: "We are enormously relieved. This goes to show that, if a community pulls together and has right on its side, you can overcome even the most difficult circumstances."

The site falls within the village's designated conservation area and outside the area earmarked by the council for development.

Villagers feared that, if the authority had approved the proposals, it would give developers a foothold on greenfield land, leading to a much bigger development that would spell the end for village life. They also wanted to keep the car repair business that occupies the site.

"This would have given the area a totally suburban feel and we want to keep the atmosphere of our village," said Coun Johnson.

Jim Owens, clerk to Lanchester Parish Council, said: "The A691 has always been a natural boundary between the village and the open countryside and we are absolutely delighted it will remain so."

In unprecedented scenes at the council meeting, councillors were greeted outside Consett Civic Centre by villagers waving placards and about 80 residents packed the council chamber to hear the application discussed.

Councillor Alex Watson, leader of the district council, said: " I have never seen so many people in the chamber. Emotions ran high, but they conducted themselves very well. They gave us good reasons to turn the application down and we agreed with them."

He said if there was an appeal against the decision, the council would back villagers.

"People have deep concerns over this. If the developer appeals, we will ask the Government for a public inquiry."