SCHOOLGIRL Sarah Thorpe has melted the hearts of councillors and persuaded them to overturn planning objections - and put her favourite animals first.

Animal lover Sarah, 13, wrote to Rossendale's planning committee begging councillors to allow her father to build shelters for his sheep and cattle on his farm, which include a rare breed of longhorn cattle.

Planning officers had opposed the application, saying the proposed buildings - a livestock shelter with workshop, midden and silage clamp - would spoil an attractive countryside area.

But Sarah wrote to councillors in a bid to change their minds: "We have the animals now and they need shelter over the winter."

Sarah was at the meeting to hear the decision with her father and her sisters Josephine, 11, and Rebecca, four.

After councillors approved the plans, Sarah, a pupil at Fearns High School, said: "I wrote the letter because I wanted to help my dad and because I love the animals."

Farmer Ted Thorpe applied for permission to build a shelter after his 450 sheep, pigs and cattle, including rare longhorns, and 400 hens faced a winter outdoors.

The animals were caught in a tenancy dispute between Mr Thorpe and North West Water (United Utilities) over 400 acres of land at Cowpe Hall Farm, Cowpe Road, Waterfoot, which the Thorpe family has rented for 46 years.

The tenancy agreement for the land expires at the end of this month. Mr Thorpe has been told the company will not renew the tenancy agreement for farm buildings on the land. Mr Thorpe accepted he would have to vacate the buildings, which have been described by the agricultural advisory body ADAS as unsuitable for agricultural use due to their poor condition.

His only hope lay with the council and permission to put up new buildings for the animals on land he owns nearer the farmhouse.

After the decision by the council's engineering and planning committee he said: "I'm absolutely delighted."

He said his only alternative would have been to put up prefabricated emergency shelters which would have been allowed on animal welfare grounds.

Councillors were also given a 134-signature petition from local people supporting the farmer's plans.

Coun Michael Cruise said: "If we refuse this application we jeopardise the welfare of the animals and the livelihood of the farmer.

"Mr Thorpe's methods of farming are to be admired. He rears a rare breed of longhorns using traditional methods which are not to his financial advantage.

"It's not a money-making scheme but it is to Rossendale's benefit. To have rare breeds here adds to the character of the area."

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