Plans to build a hunting lodge near a herd of rare, wild cattle in Northumberland, have been thrown out by borough councillors.
A developer wanted to put the lodge on woodland at Kay Hill, near to the unique white Chillingham Castle herd.
Campaigners claimed the 56 cattle - thought to be related to prehistoric auroch oxen - would be disturbed by hunters and traffic.
Berwick councillors rejected the plans by Hertfordshire-based Michael Glasser.
Mr Glasser had said the lodge, which would sleep up to 10 people, would only be used for 90 days a year.
Isolated and untouched
But councillors backed campaigners, including Sir Humphrey Wakefield, owner of Chillingham Castle, who argued traffic going to and from the lodge would ruin the tranquillity of the area.
Mr Glasser has indicated he may appeal against the decision.
A Berwick Council report said the proposal had drawn 20 letters of support compared with 13 against.
According to the Chillingham Wild Cattle Association, the herd has remained isolated and untouched next to Chillingham Castle since it was first penned into the park in 1260 AD.
The association also said the herd was the only one in the world to have remained pure with no outside blood ever being introduced.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~37~RS~)