A FARMING couple said they will appeal after their dream of opening an organic business was shattered by planning officers and councillors.

Ken Brown and Victoria Whiles-Brown have spent thousands of pounds on a 16-acre site, close to Morley, near Bishop Auckland, and submitted plans for a chalet on the land.

The married couple, from Bishop Auckland, aim to run an organic farm on the site, producing eggs, poultry meat, lamb, pork and vegetables.

So far they have been unable to launch their business because of foot-and-mouth restrictions, but are keen to start as soon as possible.

They have also spent £1,000 on a business plan and report, which gives details of their future venture, which they expect to make a £12,000 profit each year.

But the couple's dream of living and working on the land faces an uncertain future after Teesdale District Council rejected their chalet plans at a meeting of the development control committee.

Mr Brown said: "We're going to fight this all the way. There's no way we're going to roll over and accept defeat.

"We've put everything we have into this. We've got £40,000 behind us, and one of us will have another income, but they still won't give it the go-ahead. I just don't think the planning report is very fair to our cause."

Members were advised by planning officer Andrew Bishop that there needed to be an exceptional reason to override Government guidelines on housing in open countryside, and the couple could quite reasonably live in a nearby village.

In his report, he said: "The degree of profitability indicated from the holding would not appear to generate sufficient income to live off and be able to afford to construct a dwelling in three years time."

The committee heard how Evenwood and Barony Parish Council had objected to the application, on the grounds that it showed no agricultural justification and that there was poor access.

Mrs Whiles-Brown said: "We feel very strongly about this, and we feel we haven't been given a fair chance, so now we face an appeal and we're determined to win."