A PENSIONER breathed a sigh of relief after a neighbour's plan to build an extension was refused by councillors.

Hilary Hughes, from Raskelf, said before Hambleton District Council's planning committee on Thursday that she was sure the application would be passed.

But despite council officer Tim Woods supporting the proposal, members did not agree.

The applicant wanted to build the two-storey extension to the back and side of his semi-detached house.

Councillor June Imeson said: "It is an over-development of the site."

Councillor Graham Jelley said it was a terrible over-development and described it as the worst he had seen since joining the committee.

Councillor David Murkett said the applicant's proposal for storing his wheelie bin at the front of his house would make it an eyesore and that the back garden was little more than a postage stamp size as it was.

As councillors voted unanimously to reject the proposal, Mrs Hughes was visibly relieved.

Afterwards, she said: "The big issue is that a precedent has not been set. I'm very relieved and thrilled to pieces. I was convinced that they would hold the other house as a precedent."