A man who began making fishing nets after his ambition to become a fisherman was shattered following a road accident, has had his application to build a business workshop rejected by planners.

Steven Leadley, a member of a fishing family in Whitby, North Yorkshire, runs Caedmon Nets, producing nets for trawl fishing, lorries, bird control and covering ponds.

But his request to the North York Moors National Park's planning committee for permission to build a workshop at his home at Echo Hill, Sleights, has been refused after neighbours' protests.

Mr Leadley told the committee he lost a leg in a car accident when he was 18.

He said he learnt the craft of net-making from his grandfather and needed a long building because trawl nets could be up to 120ft long.

Planning officers recommended that the scheme be approved, but it was turned down after neighbours said the venture was inappropriate in a residential area.

The parish council had supported Mr Leadley's application as had Whitby Disablement Action Group.