Darlington Football Club has assured supporters that construction of its multi-million pound new stadium will go ahead as planned.

It follows claims that construction of the stadium will violate the human rights of people living next door.

The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that lawyers representing opponents of the scheme will press for a judicial review if final planning permission is granted for the development.

But the football club said yesterday that it still expected the legal transfer of the Neasham Road site to go ahead on August 25.

Spokesman Luke Raine said: "As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed and the stadium will be built. We believe the protestors are using this as a smoke screen to try to put a spanner in the works."

Mr Raine has refused to put a timetable on the completion of the stadium but said that, once work starts, it could take anything from 12 to 18 months.

Legal representatives of the Neasham Road Action Group say Darlington Borough Council would be contravening European law on human rights by giving permission for the 25,000-seater stadium.

One of the main concerns is the impact the stadium will have on travellers, who live in a caravan park about 40 yards from the proposed ground.

Darlington council has admitted it is reconsidering its position in relation to the stadium.