CONTROVERSIAL plans to build an abattoir, cooking room and incinerator at a farm specialising in rare meats may be approved next week.

Paul and Kate Langthorne, from Crawford Grange, Brompton, near Northallerton, say the new building is vital for their business.

They have a herd of water buffalo and also keep deer, North American elk and wild boars.

They sell the meat at farmers' markets and farm shops.

The couple want to put up a 23-metre by ten-metre building to house a room for cutting and storing meat, and two smaller buildings to be used as a cooking room and incinerator.

The plans have met with opposition from people in the area. A petition with 19 signatures has been sent to Hambleton District Council, as well as 36 letters of objection voicing concerns over an increase in traffic, smells from the incinerator and the impact of the buildings on the landscape.

But Mr and Mrs Langthorne say there would be no smells.

In a letter to the council, they said: "At present, we are working approximately 20 hours most days hand-pressing burgers and cutting up all meat ourselves as we have no room for any more employees.

"We cannot physically carry on much longer at this rate.

"If we have more workspace, we will be able to employ somebody to work alongside us and, hopefully, prepare some produce while we attend the farmers' markets.

"The new building will enable us to cut up meat in a more organised and civilised manner. The incinerator is fitted with an afterburner, which burns the smoke at 800-plus degrees for two seconds.

"All that comes out is a heat haze -no smoke - and a very slight smell if stood very close." Environmental health officials decided that the development would not cause any nuisance or harm to neighbours, and the plans have been recommended for approval.

Hambleton District Council's development control committee will consider the application on May 4 at a meeting at Northallerton Rugby Club.