Preston North End's plans to set up a football academy for children have been left in tatters after an appeal against the council's decision to ban the facility was dismissed.

The club had hoped to build an indoor training facility at the Springfields training ground, Dodney Drive, Lea.

This week the club were told their appeal had been dismissed in a report by Alan Robinson, appointed by Secretary for State John Prescott, on the grounds that the facility would have a detrimental impact on the look of the area.

In December 2004 Preston City Council's planning committee denied North End planning permission for the facility on the grounds of its appearance, the impact on residents' amenities, and disturbance.

North End chairman Derek Shaw admitted there was not much else the club could now do. He said: "I am absolutely shocked. We are very disappointed. We felt that we had a very strong case, especially considering the big push at government level to push grassroots sports, with the Olympics coming to Britain and a proposed bid for the World Cup.

"We already lose a lot of talented youngsters to the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool who run academies and this would have been an opportunity to combat that and give Preston North End's youth system a brighter future."

Mr Robinson's report was sympathetic with North End's desire for the facility to be able to compete with other football clubs.

But it stated: "While I have concluded in favour of the proposed sports academy in respect of both the effect upon residential amenities and the impact upon local highway conditions, I take the view that the visual impact of the proposed structure upon this open and exposed landscape is sufficient, on its own, to warrant dismissal of the appeal."