PLANS to build four houses at a farm have been thrown out by town hall chiefs.

The proposed properties at Wilkinsons Farm were deemed to be inappropriate development within the green belt.

Planning officers, who issued the decision on Tuesday, said that the applicant failed to provided "very special circumstances" to outweigh the harm caused.

The site in Blackrod, which is currently used for the storage of building materials, is the only undeveloped parcel of land along that side of Manchester Road.

There is also a disused building at the site which was constructed many years ago and has since fallen into disrepair.

The application, which was submitted by Mr J Wilkinson last month, is for a "small" residential development of four units.

Blackrod Town Council objected to the plans at a meeting last month.

Town councillors described the plans as "overdevelopment" and raised concerns about access being too close to the school's zebra crossing.