DEVELOPERS have had a second set of plans for an apartment block in Heaton thrown out by planning bosses.

Bolton-based William Hargreaves were told that proposals to pull down three houses in Old Kiln Lane and replace them with 30 flats would leave the area over developed.

Town hall bosses took a decision last week without referring the plans to a council committee, saying the plans also went against new rules designed to stop the recent trend of flattening existing non-derelict houses and replacing them with huge blocks of housing.

Dozens of residents wrote to the town hall to object to the plans for the one and two-bedroomed flats and were backed by Bolton West MP Ruth Kelly.

Homeowners said the flats would bring extra traffic to the quiet area.

A previous application by the firm was pulled last September just hours before it was due to be decided by a council planning committee.

Deane-cum-Heaton councillor John Hanscombe said: "People locally are totally opposed to that site being developed and of course if it is refused then that sends a clear message to the developers about the suitability of the scheme."