A SCHEME to build a wooden barn to house 8,000 chickens at Over Hulton has been given the green light by planning chiefs.

All the chickens will be free range and they will be released every day to roam eight hectares of land at White Gate Farm, St Helens Road.

The news of the planning approval is a dream come true for owners David and Janet Proudlove.

They have lived at the farm for more than five years but it has been in the family for 40.

Mrs Proudlove said: "We have worked so hard over the last 12 months to get the project up and running.

"We have friends on a farm in Blackrod who have many more chickens and they are doing brilliantly.

"It is going to be a business franchise where someone will buy their eggs from us.

"And there is no noise."

The proposals say the chickens will be monitored by RSPCA inspectors as is standard at all farms.

A number of existing buildings are set to be demolished to make way for the teak-stained chicken barn, where the animals would be housed at night.

It is expected to be 62 metres long.

Bolton Council received letters of objection from seven local residents, who claimed they would be affected by smell, noise, vermin and the risk of disease.

Others feared the chickens would stray on to St Helen's Road and Plodder Lane.

But a large number of letters of support were also sent to planning bosses to say that the development would see rundown buildings repaired and help boost Bolton's farming economy.

Mrs Proudlove added: "We are going to repair fences and buildings and the farm should look lovely."

The proposals were passed at a meeting of Bolton Council's planning department.