RESIDENTS wanting to build a gym over the garage of their home have had their dreams shattered after neighbours complained about the plans.

Planners in Rossendale backed neighbours, and rejected proposals to build a private gym extension at a house in Bury Road, Rawtenstall.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said : "One of the main issues is the closeness of the building to our homes.

"There's not very much space between them, so this is not acceptable by any stretch of the imagination.

"When the dormer is built, there will only be about 6ft from our bedroom window, which is going to cause light problems and affect the darkness of the room.

"We are not willing to accept having this extension on our doorsteps."

Planning chief Brian Sheasby said officers had recommended moving the extension to the other side of the house, which would have less impact on neighbours.

However, the applicants decided to stick to their original plan.

Longholme ward councillor Leonard Entwistle said: "To me this is an over development and would cause a loss of light for the people living next door.

"As it stands, I do not like this idea at all. If the building was on the other side of the house, I think it would be a totally different matter."