PROTESTORS have succeeded in scuppering plans for a huge farming building to be built in Fishburn.

The building, measuring 78ft by 29ft and 19ft high, was to be built on land off Butterwick Road to store machinery, hay and straw.

However residents, fearing an eyesore, gathered two petitions to oppose the plans and councillors on Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee have now agreed to refuse the plans.

An initial consultation process resulted in a petition with eight signatures being presented. This prompted council planners to suggest that the building could be repositioned.

Instead the applicant put forward a proposal to screen the building with trees.

This resulted in a new petition with 52 signatures from residents who said the trees could provide cover for opportunist thieves.

Charles Walton, principal development control officer, told a meeting which discussed the plan: "Officers have looked very carefully at the issues and we feel that this building would have a detrimental impact."