A GERMAN student has joined the campaign to prevent a high density housing estate being built in the centre of Tockholes.

Maria Goldbach, 22, from Kassel, was horrified to hear about the proposed development during a holiday in the village earlier this year.

She has sent a strong letter of opposition to local councillor John Williams, who is supporting protesters.

Maria, who has visited family friends in the village for the past 15 years, said: "Tockholes is a lovely old farming village with a lot of character. Building a housing estate would destroy this. The area should be preserved as a piece of living history for present and future generations."

Mr Williams plans to submit the letter to Blackburn Borough Council to be considered with the comments sent from The Friends of Tockholes Action Group and Tockholes Parish Council.

He said: "It is obvious from Maria's letter that Tockholes has international appeal. She and many others appreciate the natural beauty of the village and I hope we can succeed in blocking this plan on her behalf."

The proposal to build 55 houses at the top of Long Lane is outlined in the council's district plan, which details developments devised to take the borough into the 21st century.

The idea has triggered the biggest response of all the developments listed in the document. It will be discussed along with the other proposals at a special council meeting later this year.

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