A SILENT protest has been held against a housing scheme that was approved in May.

Protestors vowed to continue their fight against the housing development at Wheatlands Farm Cottages, Redcar Road, Redcar, which was backed by councillors.

More than 150 people turn-ed out to protest against Cleveland Housing Aid Trust's initial bid for 22 flats at Wheatlands Farm in October.

This original application was amended twice to 20 flats by the trust before it was finally rejected by councillors from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee in January.

The trust appealed against the decision, but it also submitted a fresh application, to build 16 two-storey flats in four units.

This was granted planning permission by councillors at their meeting in May, despite opposition from residents.

But the Planning Inspectorate is investigating the trust's appeal against the planning committee's decision in January.

About 100 people held a silent protest on Tuesday, organised by The Ings and Mickledales Residents' Group, as planning officer Andrew Dale, from the Planning Inspectorate, visited the site as part of the appeal process.

The group has also said it would be writing to the regional government Ombudsman to raise what it sees as concerns about how the planning decision regarding the 16 flats was made.

Councillor Mike Findley said: "Residents are trying to do anything they can to stop these flats being built."