A veterinary surgery on Avenue Road, Malvern, has been granted planning permission to build a rear, single-storey extension.

Several representations were made by concerned local residents, worried at the increase in traffic and the potential for noise and disturbance from animals.

However, Malvern Hills District Council officers dismissed the claims at a meeting of the southern area planning committee on Monday night.

They said that parking facilities would be improved, because part of the proposals were to remove a plum tree to create more space.

They also said the extension "would not give rise to an unacceptable increase in noise nuisance over and above that which neighbours might experience from time to time".