PROBATION service bosses have cancelled a series of public meetings on a planned bail hostel in Chester-le-Street because the public outcry has been so overwhelming.

Officials at County Durham Probation Service had hoped to explain their plans for the 25-bed hostel at three public meetings over the next month.

But they underestimated the depth of residents' feelings and admitted they couldn't find a venue in Chester-le-Street big enough to hold all the protestors.

Probation bosses are now regrouping to try to work out their next move in what is rapidly becoming one of the biggest protest issues in the town's recent history.

Mary Bewley, probation service spokeswoman, admitted they hadn't expected a response on such a large scale.

She said: "We have cancelled the three meetings because the number of people wanting to express an opinion on this matter is too large.

"There probably isn't a venue in Chester-le-Street big enough to hold everybody - we need a really large hall and there just isn't one.

"We anticipated a lot of interest from residents in streets near the proposals - places like Picktree Lane and Picktree Terrace - but it's become the whole town.

"It's not unusual for people to feel that strongly about it. It's not surprising people are really alarmed but we would like to reassure them that we would not take people that were any sort of risk to the public.

"We're not sure what we're going to do now. We will probably meet representatives of the residents' association on a more one-to-one basis."

Pam Tweddle, spokeswoman for concerned residents, says the response to the proposals has been 'overwhelming.'

She said: "I will do whatever it takes to stop these plans. This is a major, major issue for Chester-le-Street so I'm not at all surprised that the whole town is up in arms.

"The fact that they've cancelled these meetings looks like good news for us - it shows our numbers can make a difference."

The hostel, if built, will be the only Home Office-approved facility in County Durham and will house ex-cons, court defendants and people on probation from all over the county. The probation service runs two similar hostels in Teesside and four in Northumberland.

l Concerned residents are invited to a meeting to discuss the hostel at the Greenbank Club in Picktree Lane on Wednesday at 7.30pm.