PLANS to build homes beside a picturesque Northumberland harbour have been thrown out.

An application by Beadnell Fishermen’s Society for three homes in the village were rejected by Northumberland County Council.

The 18th-Century harbour was gifted to local fishing families by Sir John Craster in 1951 and is within an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The fishermen were seeking to build houses on land beside the harbour in order to generate the money they need to fund the upkeep of the structure, and dredging.

They proposed three homes at The Haven and one at White Rock, although one of the three was later removed from the scheme.

However, the plans angered residents, who formed petitions signed by 2,662 people and set up the Save Beadnell Association, and Beadnell Parish Council. Forty-six letters of objection were sent to the county council in relation to the White Rock scheme, and 57 on the proposals for The Haven.

Objectors claimed the development would harm the area’s heritage and character, and the association said it had offered to buy the harbour from the fishermen and to pay to maintain it.

Applications for planning permission, and listed building consent for the properties at The Haven, went before the council’s North area planning committee.