BURGER giant McDonald's has seen its plans for a drive-thru restaurant - its third site in Kidderminster - thrown out by district planners amid widespread public opposition.

Wyre Forest District Councillors hailed the decision as a triumph for democracy after residents near the proposed location on derelict land Park Street and Chapel Street organised a petition and wrote letters of objection to two previous failed applications.

Residents Against McDonald's (RAM) claimed the repeated applications showed 'contempt' for their views and on Tuesday their prayers were answered when councillors overwhelmingly voted against the latest scaled-down bid.

"Local democracy is actually seen to be working," said Councillor Peter Carter, who represents the Sutton Park ward in which the development was proposed.

And Offmore Councillor Fran Oborski slammed the would-be building as "a grotty deep south bungalow that looks more at home in a shopping mall in Alabama than in Kidderminster."

She added: "Thank God for the draft district local plan," which she claimed helped put paid to the development.

Previously the local plan allocated the land to an extension of the ring road but with the scheme now shelved the site is earmarked for housing.

Despite a reduction in restaurant seating from 85 places to 60, planning officers also recommended refusal on the grounds the poor design of McDonald's "house-style" would not add to local character and was a "retrograde step" from previous applications.