A developer's plan to build flats in woodland has been thwarted.

Malvern Hills District Council's southern area planning sub-committee refused Ciel Properties, of Birmingham, permission for the scheme when it met on Wednesday.

The firm wanted to build three two- and three-storey blocks on a 2.5-acre woodland site between the A449 Worcester Road and the Safeway supermarket car park.

But councillors said the woodland was an important part of the entrance to Malvern Link from the Worcester direction.

They were backed by a planning officers' report which said the woodland was protected and had recently been incorporated into Malvern Link Conservation Area.

A number of residents objected to the plans, as did Malvern Town Council, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and the Council for the Protection of Rural England. Among the objections raised were the loss of woodland, traffic overload, access and flooding problems.

Coun David Watkins (Link) said: "It's always struck me that we've always had the benefit of this woodland to screen the retail development at Townsend Way."