RACEHORSE trainer David Nicholls has been ordered to demolish 50 stables built at his yard without planning permission.

Mr Nicholls, known throughout the racing world as Dandy Nicholls, is thought to have invested more than £500,000 in the stables development at Sessay, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

Mr Nicholls, one of Britain's leading trainers with more than 30 winners this season, received permission to build 27 stables, but added an extra 50 without permission.

Now he will have to removed the extra stables, which provide work for 18 staff, after officials ruled they were detrimental to the landscape and were a danger for traffic.

Officials from Hambleton District Council carried out a site visit after a complaint from neighbours, and Mr Nicholls then submitted a retrospective planning application.

But councillors refused permission and have given officers the power to seek an enforcement order.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Mr Nicholls said: "We have not yet received any notification from the council about this, and until we do we cannot make any comment."

Councillors agreed with officers that the development brought about a substantial change in the nature and character of the business and would have a detrimental impact on the landscape.

In addition, highways officers from North Yorkshire County Council opposed the development, saying it would lead to a substantial and dangerous increase in traffic.

Access to the stables is from the village of Thormanby, where residents recently erected warning signs in the shape of coffins following a spate of car crashes.

Maurice Cann, the district council's head of development services, said: "We were made aware of this issue by a third party and followed the set procedure.

"There has been a very significant increase in the number of horses and the staff who look after them.

"If Mr Nicholls does not remove the stables, then an enforcement order will be issued.