CAMPAIGNERS against the expansion of a mushroom factory have spoken of their delight after the latest decision in a long running planning battle went in their favour.

Greyfriars UK, based at Wath, near Ripon, has submitted a number of different planning applications in recent years to expand the business and create more growing space.

Local residents set up a campaign group, Wath Against Mushrooms (Wam), to fight the plans, which they argue are too big for the rural area and will increase the number of lorries visiting the site.

The original plans submitted by Greyfriars to build a 100m long by 70m growing shed are subject to a public enquiry in September.

However, the latest decision about the site involved an appeal by Greyfriars to build three additional poly-tunnels at the site, which was turned down by the planning inspectorate.

The application was submitted by Greyfriars as alternative expansion plan to the growing shed and had previously been thrown out by Harrogate Borough Council.

A spokesman for Wam said: "We are delighted at this decision and feel that our on-going campaign has been thoroughly vindicated. "Greyfriars' expansion plans have so far been comprehensively rejected by the local community, the council and now by planning inspectors. "When will they get the message ? The countryside is no place for this development.

""Villages are already plagued by HGVs travelling to and from the site and, if the new complex is built, this number will increase hugely and communities will be swamped."

John Smith, managing director of Greyfriars, said he would not be losing any sleep over the latest planning defeat.

He added: "The fact of the matter is that we need to continue to expand our business to grow more produce. Nothing has changed as far as that is concerned.

"If we can't grow mushrooms on our own farm we will just have to grow them elsewhere and bring them here for packing.

"This will have an adverse impact on the amount of traffic coming through the village, which we wanted to avoid, but it seems that the look of the farm is now more important to the objectors than the traffic."