A CAMPAIGN has succeeded in blocking plans to create an 111-acre opencast mine in the North-East after planners rejected the application for a second time.

Hall Construction Services wanted to extract 480,000 tonnes of coal and 100,000 tonnes of fireclay from a site at Skon's Park, next to the National Trust's Gibside Estate, on the County Durham-Northumberland boundary near Burnopfield.

But Gateshead Council received more public opposition to the plan than any other in recent times.

People in surrounding local authority areas voiced concerns about the impact on the local environment, which is recovering from industrialisation.

They also feared increased traffic congestion and an adverse effect on nature and wildlife if the plan went ahead.

The council received more than 750 letters of objection and three petitions containing more than 13,000 names.

The committee rejected the application last October, but agreed to postpone making its judgement official pending the receipt of more information from the applicant.

But yesterday, councillors did not change their minds and unanimously agreed to refuse permission a second time.

Eddie Stringer, chairman of Derwentside Residents Against Mining Application, said the group was pleased with the decision.

Mr Stringer said: "It is the middle of a beautiful spot in the Derwent Valley and that is why it has been turned down.

"It has taken years for this area to become a tourist attraction and we don't want all the good work to be undone."

Stephen Hall, managing director of Hall Construction Services, said he was considering appealing over the council's decision.

He said: "We are playing with people's livelihood here. The prices of gas and electricity is going up all the time and there is coal in the ground which could be extracted."