Developers building homes near Bicester have been banned from using freshly-dug natural Cotswold limestone on new houses because it is too bright.

Cherwell District Council planners said limestone earmarked for six executive homes in Somerton is too creamy and does not match the greyer tones of surrounding buildings.

The decision has angered the firm providing the stone, Farmington Natural Stone, based near Cheltenham, because existing buildings in the village, which is in a conservation area, are already made from the same material.

There is a difference in colour, it said, because limestone is naturally lighter when it is newly-quarried from the ground.

Managing director, Martin Robins, said: "We take the view that Cherwell's action is a wrongful restraint of trade. We are not going to accept it. Somerton is slap bang in the middle of the limestone belt. Farmington is a classic limestone and perfect material for the area. It exactly matches the indigenous stone.

Bob Duxbury, area planning officer at the council, said its decision was based on samples sent to its office but added the matter was being looked into further.

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