TWO young sisters were celebrating today after persuading council planning bosses not to give their giant tree house the chop.

Jenny Heyworth, 13, and sister Jo-Jo, nine, sprang into action to save their treasured play den from being axed after the owner of a nearby luxury home claimed the tree house invaded his privacy.

The girls, who put their pocket money into creating the tree house, drummed up support among their friends and neighbours to form the Friends of High Bank Tree House, Colne.

Pendle Council planner Chris Preston urged councillors to refuse planning permission for the tree house and take action to have it pulled down.

The issue galvanised the neighbourhood into action and ten letters were sent to the council, nine in favour of keeping the tree house and one against.

But the council's Colne area committee decided Mr Preston was barking up the wrong tree and agreed that it could stay.

The youngsters were delighted by the news that they had won their fight.

Jenny said: "We are really, really happy. We couldn't go to the meeting, but my grandad spoke to the councillors."

Their grandfather, Owen Oliver, said: "We are very pleased for the grandchildren because they would have been very disappointed.

"I think the councillors acted very fairly and sympathetically." Mr Oliver had to apply to the council for permission to retain the tree house, which is 7ft above ground, in the garden of his home in Bent Lane, Colne, after neighbour Cyril Stubbins complained youngsters using it could see into his house and garden.

Mr Stubbins had told the committee: "It is the maximum distance from his (Mr Oliver's) house and the minimum distance from mine. I can't see any reason for placing it so close to us.

"It is totally overbearing. We feel we have lost total privacy with this building. Any undesirable could be in that building without Mr Oliver knowing."

But ward councillor David Robertson said he did not find the tree house unacceptable and it should remain.

Planning permission was granted on condition that the permission is for Mr Oliver's family only, that climbing plants to screen it should be planted as soon as possible and that no further extension work is carried out on the den were accepted by the committee.

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