A RESIDENTS' group has accused Burnley Council of trying to smuggle through controversial plans for an industrial estate near their homes.

The accusation came after the council admitted it had sent out letters wrongly informing residents the plans were not going to be discussed until January.

In fact, the plans were due to be debated at a planning meeting on Thursday and council officers hurriedly had to withdraw the application when the error came to light.

The application has now been deferred until January 16 and the council says it will send out new letters telling residents about the meeting.

But some are very unhappy and have claimed the mistake was a deliberate ploy to sneak through the controversial plans for a 13-acre development at the back of Lowerhouse Cricket Club, in Liverpool Road, Burnley.

Roy Dewhurst, chairman of Lowerhouse Residents' Association, said the council was worried about opposition to the plans and tried to pass it without a fuss.

He added: "I believe this was an attempt by the council to get this application though without any opposition.

" We have been fighting to keep this land as a greenfield site for the last 20 years and the council knew there was going to be opposition so it have tried to get it through the back door.

"I only found out by chance that it was due to be on the agenda on Thursday so I called all the councillors for the area and none of them knew it was due to come up. It is absolutely astounding."

However, head of planning services at Burnley Borough Council Sue Graham, said it had simply been a case of confusion.

She added: "Some people were aware this item was going to be considered, but others had been sent letters with the wrong date on so the item was taken off the agenda.

"There has been some confusion but no real problem and the item has been deferred to give everyone the chance to have their say."