THE future of a multi-million pound shopping and leisure complex has been thrown into doubt.

The Dalton Flatts scheme in Murton, east Durham, will be the subject of a second public inquiry after developers London and Amsterdam submitted an application to increase the shopping space by 50,000sq ft.

That represents an increase of 50 per cent, and the plans were called in by Secretary of State for the Environment John Prescott.

A public inquiry was held in May 1999 and a decision took nine months.

Easington MP John Cummings said the new delay would cause anger and frustration among villagers. He said the developers had taken a risk in submitting the amendment, and was concerned it could jeopardise the development.

It is expected to be several months before a decision is made.

Easington District Council approved the changes to the proposals earlier this year and has promised to continue backing the application, but there were objections from the Modus Properties, the owners of Peterlee Town Centre.

The town is undergoing a facelift and the owners fear the development will damage trade.

London and Amsterdam plans to increase the shopping floor space by cutting the space for leisure facilities.

The company, has been involved in a number of major redevelopment projects, including Newcastle Quayside and the Albert Docks in Liverpool.

Bosses said the Murton Flatts development would create more than 1,000 jobs.