Parish councillors have declared their unanimous opposition to plans for an open cast mine on the edge of their village.

Measham Parish Council has slammed UK Coal's plan to begin mining at its 321-acre Minorca colliery site, off Gallows Lane, as "unacceptable".

The firm wants to extract 1.5m tonnes of coal and fireclay over three years before returning the area to woodlands and farm use.

Parish council chairman Colin Manifold said: "Our decision was unanimous. We have grave concerns about the potential harm to wildlife in Gilwiskaw Brook and the effect on the village of heavy trucks using Gallows Lane.

"We are also unhappy that UK Coal refused to give us a guarantee that they will not apply to extend the life of the mine beyond three years if they are given planning permission."

He said: "The damage the mine will do to the village far outweighs any benefits. It is totally unacceptable."

The public consultation by Leicestershire County Council, which will decide the application, ended on October 4.

Measham Parish Council was given extra time so it could hold a public meeting last month, before submitting its official view.

More than 40 residents attended Thursday's council meeting, in St Laurence's Church Hall, High Street, where councillors made their decision.

Campaigners had expressed doubts about which way councillors would vote, as the council was the only public body to give conditional approval to a similar open cast application, which was turned down in 1995.

UK Coal says the mine would create 50 jobs. It has promised to create a £150,000 community fund and provide machinery and manpower to help restore the Ashby Canal through Measham.

Steve Leary, chairman of the Minorca Opencast Protest Group, set up by residents, said of the council decision: "UK Coal face a solid wall of opposition to its plans for an opencast mine at Minorca from across north west Leicestershire.

"Measham Parish Council, Swepstone with Newton Burgoland and Snarestone Parish Councils and North West Leicestershire District Council all now oppose this plan. Parish councillors came to the right conclusion that the harm this proposal would do to local people and the image of Measham as being in the heart of the National Forest outweighed any benefits."

A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said a decision on the plan was expected in December or January.

UK Coal spokesman Stuart Oliver said: "We hope the benefits the Minorca scheme can provide will be recognised by the county council."

To view the application, visit:

www.leics.gov.uk