PLANS for 158 more pitches at a caravan park were unanimously supported by councillors yesterday.

Teesdale District Council's planning committee backed the application by Lambton Adventure Park Ltd to reorganise Witton Castle, near Bishop Auckland.

But the Environment Agency still has to set conditions relating to lighting before formal approval can be given by the authority's principal planning officer, Trevor Watson.

The application involves reducing the number of caravans on the present site at Witton Castle to 256 and placing an extra 219 caravans on two nearby rally fields, increasing the park's capacity by 158 pitches.

The application is also for 24 timber-clad holiday cabins.

Coun William Salvin said: "It's a very, very effectively screened development.

"I think that the changes that are proposed can only be to the good."

The committee deferred the application until the Environment Agency's comments were received. Mr Watson will then approve the plan.