Villagers in Horton-cum-Studley are furious that cows will soon be returning to a farm.

Village campaigners say that "lives will be blighted" by plans to set up a large dairy unit at Ventfield Farm in Church Lane.

The farm previously had sheep and crops but residents say they are unhappy at the prospect of slurry tanks, smells and increased traffic in the quiet country village.

Cherwell District Council's south area planning committee approved an application from livestock farmer Walter Forrest to erect a new dairy unit, silage clamp and slurry tank.

Villagers warned that the plan constituted an "unnecessary development in the green belt" creating "a noise and smell nuisance to the local neighbours and light pollution in the area generally."

Chloe Gover, of Ventfield Close, who has lived in the village for 36 years, said: "This proposed dairy farm is too big and intrusive and will blight so many lives. They are proposing to have 160 cows.

"The site on the edge of Otmoor is not properly drained. That is why the last time there was a dairy farm here in the 1940s, the original farming family decided to change to sheep and crops."

Polly Webb, a member of the village campaign, said that 112 people in the village had signed a petition objecting to the application, which was opposed by the parish council.