NEARLY 100 residents have objected to a neighbour's plans to build houses on a former pig farm.

Planning officers agreed, recommending refusal of the application submitted to the development services committee.

Outline permission has been sought to build up to nine houses on land at Elton Road, Belthorn, which used to house a pig rearing operation. It closed several years ago but there is still a shop on the site.

A similar application was withdrawn in 2000, but the latest drew objections from 96 residents concerned about increased traffic, the effect on local wildlife and drainage facilities.

Villagers also said Elton Road was already an accident 'blackspot'.

"If this application is agreed it will set a precedent and open the floodgates to a deluge of similar applications from other landowners in the area, thus sounding the death knell for the village of Belthorn," wrote one.

Lancashire County Council also opposed the application, citing concerns about traffic.

Members of the development services committee deferred their decision until after a site visit.