Campaigners are furious that the ashes of former soldiers buried at the site of the DLI Museum will be removed to make way for a new facility.
Planning permission for the reopening of the DLI Museum and Art Gallery was given last month, with the venue to be expanded and include a dedicated space to display key objects from the DLI collection as well as an exhibition centre, gallery and café.
The ashes of former soldiers are scatted and buried around the site at Aykley Heads, and Durham County Council plans to remove the topsoil and preserve it before carefully re-laying it in the new reflective garden area.