A village is celebrating after a fiercely opposed planning application for 46 new homes was rejected.

Latchingdon parish councillors and residents believed the development at Bridgemans Green, Latchingdon, would be too urban for the small village.

Gary Sharp of CCC Property applied to build the flats and homes last July, plus a community coffee shop, after his previous application for 58 homes in July 2012 was also refused.

However, the parish council received more than 100 objections and clerk Sarah Sayer told Maldon District Council: “Latchingdon is a small, rural village and wishes to stay that way to preserve the rural way of life."

Maldon District Council refused planning permission on the grounds the homes would be visually intrusive and an urban extension to the village.