A HARD-FOUGHT battle between Kington St Michael Parish Council and the Stinchcombe family, who live in a caravan on the outskirts of the village, reached a climax last week, when an appeal hearing ruled in favour of the family.

The three generations of the Stinchcombe family had been given six months notice to quit the land in Stanton Lane after North Wiltshire Council planning officers ruled it was too close to the M4 to be habitable.

The family took the decision to an appeal and were last week granted a five-year stay on medical grounds.

Debbie Stinchcombe, 42, said the decision was fantastic. "It's the best news we have had in five years," she said.

She claimed her family had been the victim of sour grapes by a small number of residents.

Parish council chairman Robin Duckett said the ruling was gravely disappointing and said it would open the floodgates for many other illegal campers to set up home at other sites around the village.

"There is a second camp, in the same Lane, without planning permission and it is much bigger," he said.

"This tells campers they can do virtually what they like and get away with it."

The appeal was told the Stinchcombe family moved their three caravans on to the land after being forced to move seven times in three years.

After suffering a series of personal setbacks, including losing their animal sanctuary business at nearby Kington Langley,the family bought the field as a last resort, but angered residents by puttting up screens to shield them from traffic and digging a lake in the middle of the ground.

Mrs Stinchcombe said: "We have tried to abide by the rules and now we are thrilled with the result. We think the ill-feeling has only come from a small number of people.

"To say we are encouraging people to set up camp illegally here is ridiculous. All we want is to provide stability for our children and grandchildren."

The family now want to landscape their site.