PLACARD-WAVING protesters won a victory in their fight to stop new homes being built in their village.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee deferred a decision on an outline plan for new homes near Coach Road in Brotton.

About 20 villagers, waving placards daubed with Don't Kill Our Wildlife and Save Our Children, said the new homes would damage the environment, cause traffic problems, exacerbate flooding and destroy a wildlife habitat.

The council has received 42 letters of objection. Their fears have been taken up by MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Ashok Kumar, borough councillor Brian Hogg, former councillor Richard Rudland and Skelton and Brotton parish council. A petition with 178 signatures has been handed to the borough council.

Coun Hogg said: "There's a lot of feeling in the village about this one. People are very worried about the access road to the new homes. There would be poor visibility and it could be dangerous."

A council report said that housing development would not destroy wildlife and the access road was satisfactory. Planning officers recommended councillors approve the plan as long as 15 conditions were met.