Campaigners are vowing to resist the tide of takeaways in Melksham after stopping another restaurant from opening in the town.

A plan for a fried chicken takeaway in King Street was refused at a West Wiltshire District Council meeting last week.

Campaigners raised a 500-signature petition against the proposal, saying there were already too many takeaways in Melksham.

District councillor Brian Mudge, who presented the petition last week, welcomed the decision.

He said: "It has been a slow and drawn out battle involving MP Michael Ancram, the inspector of the west Wiltshire district plan and planning officers at the district council.

"Planning officers are not always ogres and the town owes a thank you to them for suggesting a way forward."

Earlier this year, town councillors objected to the plan for the former PR Sounds hi-fi shop, saying King Street was already the site of three fast food businesses and an Indian restaurant.

Cllr Mudge was pleased local decision makers were given a say in what mix of shops they wanted.

The Melksham district councillor said he would keep a close eye on existing takeaways because residents' lives were being ruined by early morning disturbances directly linked to opening hours.