A MODEL flying club, described as a national leader in the sport, has won its bid for permanent use of greenbelt land at Astley Moss.

The club's "exemplary" track record in seven years' of flying on the land led the council to agree to the permanent consent.

A planning officer said: "It would appear ... that apart from a few occasions when airplanes have been flown outside the agreed time or have gone beyond the boundary of the site, the use has had little if no impact upon local amenities or the wildlife."

Wing Commander G S Lynn, general secretary of the British Model Flying Association, had also put in a good word.

"In the last five years, the Tyldesley Model Flying Club has developed into one of our most successful, pro-active and responsible clubs," he said.

"They are often the 'lead' club for developing new ideas and have recently made significant contributions toward safety improvements and recommendations on the care of children whilst on the flying site.

"These were so comprehensive, they have since been implemented on a national basis."

The application was approved subject to activity being restricted to Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 7pm from August Bank Holiday to Spring Bank Holiday, and 12 noon to 7pm Spring Bank Holiday to August Bank Holiday, although flying can start at 10am on Sundays.

Other conditions include restricting the number of aircraft being flown at any one time to four, and removal of a caravan by June 2005.