PLANS to convert a farm building into a shop have met with opposition from villagers.

The owners of Piercebridge Farm, at Piercebridge, near Darlington, submitted a planning application to Darlington Borough Council to turn a barn into a farm shop for the sale of organically produced food.

The proposal also involves the formation of a retail sales area and a coffee shop, with and lavatory for the disabled.

Members of Darlington Borough Council's planning applications committee will be told today that five letters of objection to the scheme have been received from people in the village.

The main concern is that the farm shop will have a detrimental effect on the village shop, which also acts as a post office.

Residents fear the new shop will result in increased traffic coming into Piercebridge, and that cars will park on the village green and cause noise and nuisance.

Councillors will be told that when considering applications for farm shops, local authorities have to take into consideration the impact it will have on other village stores and on transport.

With this is mind, the committee is being advised to give planning consent, but limit the shop to selling farm produce only.