A scheme to build the UK's largest egg farm in the Borders has been approved by councillors.
Glenrath Farms Ltd intends to build nine free range poultry houses at Blythbank near West Linton - with each shed housing about 25,000 hens.
Scottish Borders Council's planning committee agreed to follow official advice and approve the project.
The scheme will now be referred to the Scottish Government for a final decision due to environmental concerns.
A motion was put forward at committee to defer a decision on the plans.
However, that failed to find support and councillors gave their backing to the proposal with a wide range of conditions.
Opposition campaign
The Lamancha-based company was given the all clear by Scottish ministers last year to build one of the giant sheds.
It has also said that an independent environmental impact study supported the proposals.
However, there has been a concerted campaign by the Blythbank Action Group to stop the development growing in scale.
Protesters have raised concerns about the impact on wildlife and river tributaries in the area.
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