A COUPLE who sold their home to set up a fantasy forest tourist attraction have seen their dream dashed by a planning inspector.

Former marine engineer Harry Davison and his wife, Val, spent more than £30,000 developing Elfinwood, on the outskirts of Crook.

The Tolkein-inspired theme park could have been a winner, cashing in on the popularity of the blockbuster film Lord of the Rings.

Mr Davison, now living in a rented home in Hamsterley, had planned to promote his Elfin Tea, a cure-all created from lichen and mushrooms, which he said could treat a host of complaints.

Brightly coloured models of Hobbits and Elves had already appeared on the site, and the Davisons had collected a host of signatures in support of their project.

But before it could open, planning officials at Wear Valley District Council blocked the project by twice refusing permission for the development on a seven acre site of grassland and woodland.

The council argued that disused mineworkings would make the attraction unsafe and that there was no suitable access from the A689.

Yesterday, a Government planning inspector, who visited the site in January, turned down an appeal from the couple against the council's decision.

He said the development would create a potential traffic hazard on the road and would be out of keeping with the surrounding countryside.

Mr and Mrs Davison were unavailable for comment yesterday, but had said previously that they would give up their battle if the decision went against them.

The couple have six weeks to appeal to the High Court against the inspector's ruling.

Last October, they revealed that they had put the site on the market for £20,000 but withdrew it soon afterwards because there was little interest.

Councillor Barbara Laurie, who chaired the council's planning committee at the time of the couple's application, said that members had supported the idea, but felt it was in the wrong place.

She said: "We welcome imaginative ideas like this because we really need visitor attractions in Wear Valley. We hope they find another site which would be more suitable."