Residents have won their fight to stop two housing developments in one of North Yorkshire's most exclusive areas after writing 333 protest letters to planning officers.

One scheme attracted 197 letters protesting about plans to demolish two large bungalows, replacing them with eight flats, on Harrogate's Duchy Estate, which is in a conservation area.

Residents were backed in their protest by Harrogate Civic Society, which said the scheme at 68a to 68b Cornwall Road should be refused because it would adversely affect the conservation area and provide "poor amenity for neighbours".

Harrogate Borough Council planners voted unanimously to reject the planning application.

Planning officer Sara Purvis said the design would not make a positive contribution to the visual quality of the area and did not respect the privacy or amenity of nearby residents.

Neighbours expressed concern about an intrusive and overbearing development of the site. There were fears the scheme would damage the character and lead to the erosion of the Duchy area, they said.

A separate application to demolish a bungalow and build three flats at nearby 46A Kent Road, also on the Duchy Estate, was unanimously refused by planners.

This development plan drew 136 letters of objection from residents.

Harrogate Civic Society also protested, saying the scheme was too intensive.