Feeling in East Morton is still running high this week as residents maintain their opposition to proposals for a children's home in the village.

Residents said a packed public meeting last week, with bosses from the social services department, allowed them to gauge the strong feeling of opposition towards the home and are planning to fight every step of the way.

Deborah Longbottom, spokeswoman for the village committee against the plans, said after the meeting: "The options of appealing to the ombudsman and going for a judicial review are something we can consider if needs be.

"We have taken legal advice and are considering our options."

More than 150 residents crammed into the village institute last Thursday to meet with officials from social services to discuss the plans.

The meeting was called by residents who claim that the site in Carr Lane earmarked for development is unsuitable.

They say that the location selection process is flawed and heckled as representatives from social services explained the proposals.

There was concern expressed among residents that the children would be offenders and that crime and anti-social behaviour in the village would soar.

Some said that they would not allow their own children to play with children from the home and said the children would be "bad news" and would be ostracised.

Head of children's services Kath Tunstall said: "We have 845 children in the care of the local authority. They are victims of abuse or neglect. They are not involved in drugs, not offenders. They are ordinary children, in care through no fault of their own. They do all the normal activities that young children do and have at least two staff with them.

"But I am not going to deny that children who have suffered abuse could have some difficulties. We are obliged by law to provide good homes for them and these are care homes, not secure units or remand homes," she said.

The council plans to care for eight children, aged between ten and 16, at the proposed new home. Villagers claim East Morton is unsuitable because it is isolated and has little public transport and no children's facilities.

They pointed out the hazards of the nearby canal and pylons.

David Miller, chairman of East Morton Society said: "They have got to go somewhere but East Morton is not a suitable place. There are many hazards here in this rural place - it is generally unsuitable."

A council surgery was being held last night and another is planned for Thursday, August 21, to give residents another chance to discuss the scheme.

The surgeries are being held at East Morton Village Institute between 5.30 and 7pm.

There will also be a neighbourhood forum at the same venue on Monday, September 1, between 7 and 9pm.

Cllr Kris Hopkins, executive member for the community, said: "These surgeries and forums are important ways of giving and receiving information as we continue to discuss this scheme with local people."