Campaigning villagers have won their battle to stop a former chapel of ease being turned into a home.

Planning councillors yesterday threw out a scheme to convert the listed building at Thornton-le-Beans, near Northallerton.

The council chamber at Hambleton Civic Centre was packed with more than 50 objectors to the application by Ted King.

Several speakers hit out at the fact that the one-bedroomed home would mean an adjacent graveyard would be little more than "a de facto garden".

And council leader June Imeson was quick to condemn the plan as "absolutely appalling".

"I have never considered an application for a building so close to a graveyard as this," she told Hambleton council's development control committee.

"We have all lost loved ones and to convert this chapel into a house would be an intrusion into grief."

Mr King told the committee the chapel had not been used for more than a decade, having been declared redundant.

It had been up for sale for more than two years he said and was deteriorating. "No-one wants to see the loss of this building," he said. My wife and I would respect the serenity and dignity of the graveyard.

"All churchgoers mourn the passing of a church heritage but I would rather see this given a use than disappear".

Ward councillor, Bob Baker, said the graveyard was still active with two interments so far this year.

Planning officers had recommended approval of the scheme, but Coun David Webster said previous reasons for refusal concerning lack of parking and curtilage were still valid.

Committee chairman, Geoff Ellis said the graveyard was a shrine to the village.

The councillors felt that development would be deeply offensive to villagers, but environmental services director Steve Quartermain made it clear that emotional issues could not be given as a reason for planning refusal.

Thornton-le-Beans parish councillor, Norman Bowden said: "If this went ahead the graveyard would be little more than a de facto garden.

"We have been accused of being obstinate but don't let democratic principles be buried in this graveyard." Helen Pilling, a trustee of the Friends of the Chapel of Ease said there was an alternative scheme to restore and maintain the building and fundraising for this was well advanced.