RESIDENTS are celebrating after a developer lost another bid to build a housing estate at the end of their street.

Councillors on Bolton's planning committee turned down JS Bloor homes's application for 43 detached houses on Fish Fold Farm, Westhoughton.

But the company has also submitted a plan for 48 houses and residents on nearby Forest Drive fear their fight is not over yet.

A residents' spokesman said: "We are very pleased at this outcome and even more pleased that it was delivered with all-party support for child safety and for the environment and green fields."

The residents and campaigners from Save Westhoughton Act Now (SWAN) have fought a long battle against the proposed development.

Earlier this year a planning inspector ruled that two applications for 44 houses and 54 houses should be rejected.

But Bloor Homes submitted another plan for 43 houses, which was turned down, and is now waiting to see whether a plan for 48 houses will be a success.

Cllr Bob Howarth told the planning meeting: "We must reject this application now and fight it if it goes to an appeal."

Westhoughton Cllr David Wilkinson backed Cllr Howarth's comments and said he applauded the hard battle fought by residents.

"People are well aware of how damaging this development would be," he said.

A planning manager from the company met Forest Drive residents last month to discuss the proposals.

The residents claimed he tried to "bully" them with the prospect of even more homes if they threatened to oppose the plan for 43.

These claims were rejected by the company, which said it was only trying to keep residents informed about the situation.

Bloor Homes has outline planning permission for the site, but this is expected to come up for review at a planning meeting in the next few months.

The planning and highways committee also rejected Bloor Homes' application to move four oak trees.