ANGRY bosses at a famous East Lancashire football club today blasted plans to build a sports complex at a nearby high school after councillors put the kybosh on the club's scheme.

John De Maine, commercial director of UniBond First Division champions Accrington Stanley, hit out after members of Hyndburn Council decided to back plans to build a floodlit soccer and athletics complex at the town's Moorhead High.

The plans were put before the council on Wednesday when members of the development services committee heard that residents were concerned the project would generate excess noise and light pollution in the area.

The council's decision to support the project, which will be determined by Lancashire County Council, has baffled bosses at Stanley because their plans to build an all-weather pitch and floodlighting at their Crown Ground were rejected after local residents raised identical concerns.

Mr De Maine says the council's decision to refuse planning permission is hampering the club as they prepare to return to the UniBond Premier League next season. He said: "We achieved promotion and want to build on that. We know why our proposal was turned down, but we are baffled now that the council has backed the Moorhead scheme.

"There are many similarities between the schemes and not least the objections."

The Moorhead scheme involves creating six floodlit football pitches as well as an athletics track and sports bar. The Stanley project involved creating a new, floodlit all-weather pitch.

Mr De Maine went on: "We are confused as to how the noise from six pitches and an athletics track can be less of a nuisance than the noise from one pitch.

"This latest decision has made us think a lot harder about appealing against the decision."

Coun Jim Dickinson, who chaired Wednesday's meeting, told councillors that the two plans 'were totally separate issues.'

At the same meeting, approval was given for the extension to one of Stanley's stands, ready for the new season.

Mr De Maine added: "That is good news. Our ultimate aim is to return to the football league and this stand will help us towards getting a football league ground."

Coun Dickinson said: "Our main concern with the Stanley proposal was that it was so close to houses.

"We were asked for our opinions on the Moorhead proposal. A decision will be taken by Lancashire County Council.

"We had to decide what should happen at Stanley ourselves, there is a big difference.

"We judge each application on its merits."