OBJECTORS to a controversial animal incinerator, given the go-ahead by planners, have vowed to continue their fight.

People living in the Charltons, near Guisborough, were dismayed on Thursday when plans for a farm animal burner were approved by the North York Moors National Park Authority.

Residents have now joined forces with a Teesside environmental group, Impact, to pursue other ways of stopping the development and are threatening to take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.

The planning committee placed a series of conditions on the site, to be run by slaughterers J E Noddings, including a review after two years and the possibility of reducing the areas from which it can take carcasses.

A legal agreement will be drawn up restricting the amount of traffic using the site.

Protesters said the company had not convinced them of its commitment to keeping emissions to a minimum.

John Brunton, of Impact, said: "There are still avenues that need pursuing. We feel an incinerator just 90 metres from houses is a rash undertaking, particularly in the present climate.

"What also troubles us is the fact this was approved without the company demonstrating what environmental modelling would take place.

"In other words, we do not really know the impact this might have on the surrounding area. It seems like the resident's concerns have been dismissed."

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's environmental protection officers will monitor emission levels. The Environment Agency will also be involved in the monitoring process.

The oil-fired burner will be 4.3m long, 2m wide, 3.5m high and the total height of the building is 35m. At least 25 cattle carcasses would be burnt every day.

J E Noddings, which has been operating in the area since 1920, was unavailable for comment.

But the firm has, in the past, said it needs a bigger burner because of new regulations following the foot-and-mouth outbreak.