FURIOUS Lymm residents lived up to their reputation as the most rebellious villagers in the country when they stormed a meeting of the borough council's planning committee last night, Wednesday.

Hundreds of protesters turned out at the Town Hall as councillors decided on whether to approve schemes to build another 122 properties in the village.

David Wilson Homes has submitted plans to build 94 two and three-bedroom homes on land off Bucklow Gardens, Rushgreen Road. The proposals prompted vehement opposition from residents, parish councillors, the Ramblers' Association and Heatley and Oughtrington Village Design Group.

The second application, submitted by Sterling Homes, is for six two-bedroom flats and 22 two and three-bedroom properties behind Oughtrington Methodist Church, and this too has met with fierce opposition from villagers, who fear that Lymm is being over-developed.

But as the GUARDIAN went to press, councillors were set to approve both schemes on the recommendations of planning officers.

Resident Andrew Wilson, who posted 700 leaflets through letterboxes in a bid to drum up as much support as possible at the planning meeting, was critical of the council's planning process.

He said: "The planning department just doesn't seem to be able to police the planning process."