Claims of a bullying campaign against a couple wishing to build a new home in Malmesbury have been levelled at some objectors.

Linda and Evan Stevens applied for the new house in their garden, at 54 Gloucester Street.

North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee approved the plan in front of a vocal crowd of protesters last week.

Councillors said they were concerned with some of the tactics used by people opposed to them.

Coun Christine Reid said: "The way this has been dealt with in Malmesbury is simply appalling."

She said anonymous letters had been sent to them, posters put up in windows and signs saying "no garden grabbers here.

"The inaccuracy of the public portrayal of the applicants has been a disgrace," she said. "The campaign has been personal and intense.

"This is a shameful episode for Malmesbury."

The Gazette contacted Linda and Evan Stevens, but they had not made a comment by the time of going to press.

A letter from a group of objectors this week said: "Coun Reid launched an extraordinary slur on objectors, alleging that the conduct was a "disgrace" and that the applicants had been subjected to "bullying and intimidation" by objectors. Coun Reid made no attempt to adduce evidence in support of her allegation nor did she name or otherwise identify the persons she accused of this conduct. By implication she therefore smeared the objectors as a group."