MORE than one hundred of Britain's most important ancient woods -- including one in Chorley -- are under threat.

This is despite planning policies which aim to protect them, a leading woodland conservation charity has warned.

A report published by The Woodland Trust and WWF, the global environment network, is the first attempt to get accurate national data on how much ancient woodland is being lost to, or threatened by, development.

The Woodland Trust and WWF say planning decisions are failing these sites because they are being made on the basis of inaccurate and often inaccessible records and planning guidance, that often fail to provide the clear protection they warrant.

Manchester airport is an example of a transport development which poses a threat to ancient woodlands, say the groups and Duxbury Wood in Chorley which over the past 20 years has seen extensive house building.