A fresh bid to stop housing developers building in Seaton and Harrington has been revealed.

Residents in both areas are opposing new developments as they say they do not have enough school places, shops or services.

Now they want planners to stop classifying them as being part of Workington when considering planning applications.

According to new Government guidelines, almost 2,000 new homes need to be built in Workington by 2029.

But Councillor Celia Tibble, who represents Seaton on the county, borough and parish councils, believes that including the village and Harrington within Allerdale council's definition of the Workington settlement is resulting in disproportionate development in those areas.

Removing them from the settlement would stop big developments there, she added.

Coun Tibble said: "I think that because of their size Seaton and Harrington shouldn't be included in the whole of the Workington settlement area. We're big enough.

"Dearham and Aspatria are each settlements on their own and Seaton and Harrington are bigger than them.

"I accept that the Workington settlement needs to increase the number of houses it has. But I think Seaton and Harrington are getting more than the percentage they should get.

"I'm trying to find out exactly what the figures are, but I think it will show that the areas are overdeveloped."

Coun Tibble added that the county council's local committee for Allerdale has put forward the proposal to exclude these areas when consulted on the new local plan by Allerdale council.

The consultation's feedback is currently being reviewed and the outcome is not expected to be published until next year.

In the meantime, residents are carrying on their fight against proposed developments that they fear would have an adverse impact on their area.

The Low Seaton Anti-Development Group was formed after plans were revealed to build 109 homes near the village's Royal British Legion.

The group met this week and welcomed the news the county council was opposing the plans based on concerns around traffic and drainage.

Danny Horsley, Seaton parish councillor, said: "We're now working behind the scenes in order to gather strong factual evidence for when we'll present our objections at the planning meeting."

Coun Tibble said: "Officers are tied by planning law and it's not their fault the proposal for these houses has come forward. They have to deal with the application.

"Being a planning officer and sitting on the development panel is a very difficult job. If an application is appealed it costs tens of thousands of pounds. Our job is to provide legitimate planning reasons for the project to be refused.

"The group is doing an unbelievable amount of research and we would be grateful if anyone with planning knowledge would help us."

Residents in Harrington have also organised themselves in the Harrington Community Action Group.

It was formed as plans for 115 homes to be built on land at Whins Farm were revealed earlier this year.