RESIDENTS are celebrating after plans to develop houses on green land in Radcliffe were thrown out.

And leading campaigners say they will continue to fight tooth and nail to protect the land at Brook Bottom, Radcliffe.

Mrs Barbara Haslam, who lives on Warwick Road which backs on to the site, said: "We are delighted with the decision and will continue to oppose any future plans to develop the site."

Developers wanted outline planning permission to build houses on the site. A campaign was started late last year by neighbours in the Warwick Road and Coventry Road area to stop the plans.

Protestors claimed more houses would lead to increased traffic driving down narrow roads putting children's safety at risk. They said schools in the area were already oversubscribed and could not cope with more children, and argued that the development of the site would destroy a natural wildlife area.

Thirty-one letters objecting to the plans were sent to Bury Council.

"We were very annoyed when we heard about plans to build on the land," said Mrs Haslam.

"The development would have had a huge impact on the community in terms of traffic, and the destruction of a wildlife area. The area could not cope with more houses."

She added: "This is the second campaign we have led to stop this area from being developed. We failed to prevent Warwick Road from being extended in the 70s so we are thrilled that the committee sided with us this time."

Planning bosses refused the application on the grounds that the land is protected open land.

Speaking at this week's planning control sub-committee, Councillor Barry Briggs said: "I support the residents. Development of this area is inappropriate."