A PIT site which has drawn protests from neighbours is to be landscaped after almost two years of excavations.

Frank Spencer, who purchased the Huncoat site more than 18 months ago, has an agreement with the Environmental Agency to level the land and re-seed it before August 31 this year.

In accordance with the written agreement he will also drop two appeals against court rulings by Lancashire County Council and the Environment Agency to stop him continuing his work.

Mr Spencer gained planning permission from Hyndburn Borough Council to sell the remains of buildings and concrete slabs from the old colliery site on the understanding that the land would be regenerated and landscaped after work was finished. He later started using part of the site at Altham Lane as a stone yard with stone being brought in and sold on. The council then stepped in and said he was contravening regulations. Joint action was taken by Hyndburn Borough Council and Lancashire County Council to stop the importation and selling of stone which Mr Spencer has now accepted by dropping his appeal against the ruling.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "What residents have said about this has been totally disregarded. His work has caused a lot of extra dirt which has ruined washing hung outside, there has been a lot of noise from the machinery and the wagons coming through the village have caused an inconvenience.

"It was diabolical that we got a letter from Lancashire County Council asking what we thought about proposed work there when he had already been doing it for two years. It is about time he was moved on."

Councillor Steve Walsh said: "I do not begrudge anyone going into business but Mr Spencer has taken it to extremes and residents have suffered." Councillor Dave Parkins added: "He is being sensible and will do the landscaping and re-seeding then get off, which is good news for Huncoat."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency confirmed: "We have reached an agreement with Mr Spencer and now have it in writing."

An Environment Agency injunction against Mr Spencer for further tipping of hard core soils and processing will be heard on August 6 by Hyndburn magistrates.

Mr Spencer was unavailable for comment.