Two parish councils are opposing plans to relocate a scrapyard business to a greeinfield site because they fear it will increase traffic and lead to pollution.

Ben Smith, who owns Ben Smith and Sons scrapyard in Mill Street, Wantage, wants to relocate his business to a field to the west of W G Industrial Estate in East Challow.

The plans also include moving agricultural engineering and tyre recycling businesses to the site.

East and West Challow parish councils both oppose the plan, while Oxfordshire County Council has been inundated with objections from villagers.

At the same time, the Vale of White Horse District Council has not yet decided whether approve 169 homes to be built on the existing site in Wantage.

The parish councils are opposing the plans because residents believe the business will smell and attract rats, and that drivers would use Silver Lane as a short-cut to the field.

East Challow Parish Council chairman Ann Greig said: "The A417 is a bendy stretch of road and Silver Lane cannot cope with more heavy traffic."

"It would be other people's waste coming through our village."

Mr Smith's agent, Peter Stacey, said: "We are in negotiations with the council and are endeavouring to respond to its queries by the end of this week."

Planning officer Kirsten Berry said the Local and Structure Plans stress greenfield sites should not be developed unless there were exceptional reasons and she was not convinced this was the case.

Miss Berry said: "There are major policy concerns with this proposal.

"This is virgin open countryside land. The development would completely change the character of the land. The applicant needs to prove there is an over-riding need for another waste disposal site in this area."