A Gypsy family will be allowed to stay on land in Leigh Sinton, after a planning appeal was granted.

The Smith family settled on land at Dragon's Cross about three years ago, but a planning application to allow them to stay permanently was refused by Malvern Hills District Council in November last year.

Councillors were concerned the family could not be classed as gypsies for planning purposes and the development would have a harmful impact on the character of the area.

Now an appeal has been allowed and a Government inspector has recommended that planning permission should be granted subject to conditions relating to landscaping, drainage and access arrangements.

The family's first application, submitted in May 2002 created a storm of protest from residents in the area.

That application was refused on the grounds of road safety, after officers felt that vehicles turning into the area off the A4103 would be dangerous.

Malvern Hills District Council said it was not reasonably persuaded that the applicants were gypsies, because, they did not pursue the required nomadic habit of life.