residents have lost a battle to stop a fast food drive-through restaurant being built on their doorstep.

Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council reluctantly granted planning permission to McDonald's to build its latest restaurant at Hanson Street, in Redcar, yesterday, after councillors criticised their own planning officers.

Last year, the former gas works site on Thrush Road was given outline planning permission for a drive-through restaurant, shops and petrol station. Plans submitted at the time indicated McDonald's would be positioned away from Hanson Street.

But when supermarket chain Morrisons built a petrol station, the road was widened and the plans were altered, leaving angry councillors claiming their own planning officers had not informed them of the changes.

Residents objected to the drive-through on grounds of noise, litter, pollution, smell, extra traffic and fears for children's safety.

After a site visit yesterday morning, councillors discussed the proposals at the town hall where initially it appeared the application would be turned down.

But planning officers advised members that McDonald's would probably succeed at a planning appeal if the application was rejected because of the existing outline permission.

Councillor Dave McLuckie suggested the proposal should be approved with the condition that Morrisons and McDonald's meet residents and ward councillors to discuss issues such as traffic calming measures, or a play area for children.

But he criticised planning officers for not keeping councillors informed on the changes that had occurred.

"The fact that officers making decisions do change plans, and do not bring them back to members to make decisions, is very serious," he said.

"I would remind officers that members are the people who carry the can for any decisions made in this council as a result of the advice from officers.

"For members to make quality decisions we have to have quality information."

Councillors then reluctantly agreed to the proposal.

A spokesman for the residents said they would now be taking their case to the council ombudsman and added: "I feel anger and annoyance at the shambles that this has been because of the planning procedures that were carried out wrongly.

"They are breaking their own policies. We are going to have to live with that now and it will affect our lives.