YOUNGSTERS and adults with special needs will still be able to visit a farm near Bromsgrove to care for animals after the service was saved.

Planning committee members from Bromsgrove District Council went against officers recommendations and agreed to let 80-year-old Clifford Beech keep a temporary mobile home on his farm for another three years - one more year than Mr Beech had requested.

The mobile home is used as a base and shelter when people with special needs and other social difficulties from across the region visit Beeches Farm, in Wildmoor Lane, Catshill, to look after and feed farm animals.

The decision - which was taken on Monday - means the service can now continue.

Over the years hundreds of people have benefited from visiting the farm as reported on the front page of last week's Advertiser/Messenger.

Mr Beech, a steel stockholder from Cradley Heath, receives no payment for the service, which is in conjunction with social services. He also foots the bill for refreshments.

At the planning meeting, members decided that the benefits of the service far outweighed any harm to the green belt.

Mr Beech said: "I am delighted with the decision, thankfully common sense prevailed. I would like to thank the Advertiser/Messenger for the story and promoting the work we do. I think it really helped and made a difference.

"The future of the farm is a lot more secure now and I am planning to bring in more animals. The people who come here are delighted by the decision."