RESIDENTS in Crook are protesting against a new housing development which they say could destroy the habitat of several animals.

A planning application has been submitted by the owners of Thistleflat Farm, Crook, to build 49 detached homes on the land and demolish a house in Heather Lane.

But a group of locals are objecting to the Heather Lane house being demolished, insisting that the plans would mean the removal of trees that house wildlife and that no more homes are needed in the town.

They formed a Heather Lane Action Group, and set up a petition against the scheme. A group spokesman said: "We have a petition with 130 names, and we are expecting more.

"There are more than 300 houses for sale in Wear Valley and the area is one of the worst for green spaces.

"We don't need even more houses. There are squirrels, bats and water voles who could lose their homes."

The scheme was due to go before Wear Valley District Council on Tuesday, August 9, but the discussion on the plan has been postponed.

A spokesman for developers Wisemove Estate Agents declined to comment.