RESIDENTS in Colne are celebrating after winning a five-year fight to stop nearly 200 homes being built on countryside.

It is two years since a public inquiry into whether 198 houses should be built on the old railway sidings and fields beyond the end of Knotts Drive but now the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has overturned the Government inspector's decision and refused developers Persimmon Homes planning permission.

Campaign group Get Knotted fought a long battle to get Colne councillors to turn down the plans and had to carry on their fight to the Government.

However they still face an agonising six week wait to find out if the developers are going to appeal in the High Court.

And there are still three planning applications for houses around Knotts Lane to be decided.

Get Knotted member Kevin Singleton, of Knotts Drive, said: "We're pleased to have taken on a company like Persimmon Homes and won.

"The Secretary of State has said they can't build on there and if they want to appeal they're going to have to come up with some very good reasons why they should.

We're talking a lot of money for that development - about £40 million.

"We've learned a lot and everyone at Get Knotted is delighted.

"It's been a five-year uphill struggle and we'd like to thank the Wildlife Trust, Planning Aid, Residents Against Gib Hill Exploitation, Waterside Community Network, Tum Hill Action Group and Azhar Ali.

"We'd also like to thank all the councillors who supported the residents at committee meetings and the public inquiry.

"We hope our success encourages other groups to fight for what is best for their community."

Get Knotted does not want to see any more houses added to the Knotts Drive estate and would like the land to become a nature reserve.

But first it has to stop the land being available for housing and that means lobbying Pendle Council to change how it is labelled in the Local Plan.

Mr Singleton said: "It is a unique piece of land and we want to do everything we can to save it for future generations and our own. There's heather on it and bullfinches, willow warblers and snipes.

English Nature is interested but can't do anything while it is designated as housing land."