A DIY store's plans to move have driven a wedge between neighbours and parish councillors.

Owner of Retreat DIY in Birmingham Road, Simon Woodhall wants to switch his storage area to Upper Cottage Farm, off Old Birmingham Road.

Nearby residents started a petition backing the move, they hope will end noise and mess.

But Mr Woodhall's scheme has sparked anger among conservation-minded parish councillors.

"We've had a lot of pressure to move," said Mr Woodhall. "There are no neighbours, so it would be better. It would be landscaped and the storage wouldn't be visible."

Mr Woodhall hopes to use the existing site - a former transport caf - as a showroom. And he has the backing of Birmingham Road neighbours.

"It is dangerous when the lorries are parked and there is a lot of mess from the dust and the sand," said neighbour Sheila Clifford.

Lickey and Blackwell parish council oppose the plans, yet to go before Bromsgrove District Council.

"We're very concerned," said chairman Ron Brown. "It is next to an area of natural beauty in the foothills of the Lickeys. We must maintain the Green Belt. We can't allow the land between Marlbrook and Lickey to be built on," Mr Brown added.