The Ombudsman said promised services were not in place

The Local Government Ombudsman said that promised services were not in place when the Reynolds Arena, home of Darlington FC, opened in 2003.

The council says it acted in the interests of the football club, but will improve its licensing processes.

Campaigners against the opening of the stadium say they have been vindicated.

A cheap bus service for fans, a residents' parking scheme and road improvements had not been completed for the team's first game of the season, said the Ombudsman.

The Neasham Road Action Group, made up of residents living near the Reynolds Arena, said the council did not properly consult them.

'Registered ground'

Group member Jan Mazurk said: "Maybe it will make the council sit up and pay attention to local people. Sometimes it seems that whenever there's a large development in Darlington we have a council that likes to say yes at whatever cost.

"We turned up at the consultation session to oppose the plans to build the stadium near our houses, but we were shouted down by football supporters because they were so pleased to have the facility."

John Buxton, the council's director of development and environment, said: "We apologise for the fact that mistakes were made in the process of dealing with Darlington Football Club.

"At the time, we carefully considered preventing the stadium from opening until the improvements were complete, but that would have put the club out of existence because football league requirements state that to fulfil the fixtures you have to have a registered ground.

"That would have meant no football in Darlington and we would have lost all the benefits that arise from having a league football team in the town."