CAMPAIGNERS a Cleveland village were defeated yesterday when permission to build a 12-metre high animal carcass incinerator was granted.

About half of all households in Charltons, near Guisborough, had signed a petition against the plans arguing that the incinerator would smell and would be a health hazard.

But yesterday the North York Moors National Park Authority decided to allow licensed slaughterer Edward Noddings to erect the animal burner providing strict conditions are adhered to.

The incinerator will replace a smaller pet furnace at the Stable House Slaughterhouse and will have the burning capacity of 500kg. However the Noddings will not be allowed to burn carcasses at night and the area will have to be tidied up.

Mr Noddings said the new incinerator was needed to meet European rules which require the destruction of complete carcasses.

The business, which employs eight people, has been operated by the Noddings family for 65 years.

Mr Noddings said he had been saddened by suggestions he would cause a blight to the village.

He said: "My family have operated there for many years. We live in Charltons and our contribution to its life is second-to-none. The people are very close to our hearts.

"A lot of hysteria was caused and it has divided the village."

The conditions of the approval included that the incinerator would be up-to-date, there would be no intensification of business and emissions would be monitored by Redcar and Cleveland Council.

Many villagers had supported the Noddings including 80-year-old Joan Haygarth.

She said: "I don't want to belittle other people's opinions, but I'm annoyed with some protesters' tactics."

She claimed the protesters organised a demonstration last week and told the media and the national park that they represented most of the village when that was not the case.

She added: "The Noddings are good people who have done a lot for the village."

Protester Len Peacock said: "We have no problem with a knacker's yard but this is different altogether. The business has been here for a long time but we think there are better places for an incinerator."

Mr Peacock said he feared the incinerator would burn 24 hours a day and was unhappy with its proximity to a children's play field. He added that he and others were worried that property values would fall.