RESIDENTS at Guide, near Blackburn, have fought long and hard to save their village and fields from a big development scheme and have won a public inquiry that would take their case directly to the government.

Yet now they are told it is likely to take place in the middle of Blackburn's holidays - when many of the village's campaigners will be away.

Whether this is sinister or a sign that Whitehall has never heard of Wakes weeks, we do not know.

But what is sure is that these people deserve a full and fair hearing - and that the date must be changed to allow that.

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