VILLAGERS were celebrating last night after councillors threw out plans for 193 homes in fields near their homes.

Residents of West Rainton have vowed to fight on if the developers launched an appeal against Durham City Council's decision.

They are hoping that the land will be declared a green belt soon, to protect it from other development proposals.

Bryant Homes and Wimpey Homes want to build detached and semi-detached properties on farm land opposite Station Road.

But planning officials told the development control committee that the site was outside the village boundary, and would be in breach of local, county and regional planning policies.

West Rainton Housing Action Group chairman Eric Coates said: "We are delighted that we have won the battle, but not necessarily the war. We have to see what appeals come along.

"The campaign will keep on fighting if it goes to appeal - we'll go on until hell freezes over.

"The development would mean the loss of green fields and an increase in traffic through the village.

"There are three exits on to the A690 and if one had traffic lights people would try to avoid them and use rat runs.

"If the boundary of the village was breached, there could be more development, another 1,100 homes, which would double the size of the village.''

Mr Coates, who was the first member of the public allowed to speak at a meeting, said that West Rainton did not have the facilities to cater for the new homes.

Local councillor Ian Fawcett said: "This development is out of all proportion to the village."

The traffic light-controlled junction would have been created on the busy A690 to serve the new homes.

The group said it would be dangerous and that a much more costly grade separated junction should be built - as recommended by a planning inspector in 1991 when a 120 home development was approved but never built.

Last year, Durham County Council, which stood to get a £500,000 contribution from the developers for a park and ride site, concluded lights would be safe