PLANS for a massive extension to Fleetwood's Freeport Shopping Village have been blocked by the Government.

The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, has, on the advice of Government inspectors, rejected the application for more shops and leisure facilities at the Anchorage Road site.

Mr Prescott believes developers have not demonstrated sufficiently the need for the development and that it could have a negative impact on Fleetwood town centre and other shopping areas. He also criticised the traffic impact of the extension.