A farmer’s hopes of creating two holiday cottages have been dashed.

Andrew Smith had wanted to build the three-bedroom cottages at Bash-field Farm, Salterforth.

But the plan was rejected by the West Craven Area Committee.

Mr Smith said: “We’ve been trying for a while to build two holiday cottages on our farm.

"The 18 acres we have is not enough to sustain a living and this would be another way to have a substantial income.

“This area is ideal for walkers and people who want to visit the canal and there is a definite need to have more places for people to stop.”

Coun David Whipp said: “Bashfield used to look a ramshackle mess, but with two holiday cottages it would look nice across the valley.”

However, Pendle planning department recommended refusal, saying it would be an inappropriate and unjustified isolated domestic development in the open countryside.

Coun Chris Tennant said: “I wholly sympathise with Mr Smith but we’ve got to be extremely careful about what we approve.”