PLANS to build a gas-fired power plant in a village have been withdrawn following a public backlash.

Villagers and campaigners submitted more than 400 letters of objection to planners over proposals to build a 20MW gas fired energy reserve facility along Stonebarrow Lane in Hawkchurch on the Dorset-Devon border.

The developer, STOR 107 Ltd, has now decided to withdraw the application.

A spokeswoman for the applicant, said: "Having given careful consideration to the concerns raised by consultees and local residents, the applicant has decided to withdraw the current application and to investigate the option of a battery storage solution at this site, as suggested as being preferable by a number of objectors to the current scheme."

Tracey West, an environmentalist from Lyme Regis is pleased that protesters have been listened to.

She said: "As a campaigner, I am completely delighted.

"Hawkchurch is a tiny place, but we had people from Thorncombe, Axminster and Lyme who felt strongly about this.

"It really galvanised green groups who want to keep fossil fuels into the ground. It has been about knitting that energy together and you can actually see a great result when we come together."