PLANS for an indoor riding facility at Saltburn have been opposed by the parish council.

Tim Hill, of Saltburn Riding Centre, just outside the town on the road to Marske, is applying to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for planning permission.

He said an all-weather centre would help to meet an increasing demand for riding lessons and keep afloat his business, which had suffered as a result of bad weather and the foot-and-mouth crisis.

But Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council recommended that the borough council turn down the application as its planning committee felt there were traffic problems. The committee is suggesting that improvements are made to the school's access.

Coun Joan Guy said: "We are really pleased when businesses want to develop in Saltburn.

"Normally we would support it but from a safety point of view we just felt this was in the wrong place."

Mr Hill said the council's concerns were 'absolutely ridiculous.'