The High Court yesterday (Thursday) threw out a challenge to the district's 20-year planning vision by countryside campaigners.

Abbotskerswell Parish Council, with support from the Wolborough Residents' Association, challenged Plan Teignbridge, the masterplan that paves the way for more than 12,000 homes and acres of new shops, roads and employment units.

The land earmarked for development includes fields bordering both Abbotskerswell and Wolborough.

A two-day hearing ended with Mrs Justice Laing coming down on the side of Teignbridge Council, which campaigners had claimed failed to consider the welfare of species such as the greater horsehoe bat in the South Hams Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a site that extends across Teignbridge.A fuller story will appear in next week's print edition.