A bid to build a shooting range in a "quiet" rural village near Canterbury has sparked concerns over noise and the welfare of animals.

But the applicant has defended plans for the site at Ford Hill in Hoath, saying the village's "peace and tranquillity" will be preserved.

Stuart Pike is hoping to gain permission to turn the half-hectare plot into a range used by a private members' club to shoot at ground-level targets with air guns.

Local residents have objected to the plans, arguing the noise created by guns will cause a nuisance and could spook animals, putting horse riders at risk.

But Mr Pike maintains the range is solely intended for "low powered air guns" which will generate "very little noise".

He is also hoping to gain retrospective planning approval for a bund that has been built around the site, which he says "will reduce the noise - if any - to almost negligible".

But residents fear this will not be the case.

Among them is Matthew Herbert, who says the development would cause a "negative change to the soundscape of the area that would negatively affect both humans and animals".

Calvia Henry, who has long-ridden horses in the area, is worried about the plans.

She commented: "I am concerned for the welfare of the residents of this quiet, rural area and the impact the daily sound of gunshot in their immediate vicinity would have on their mental wellbeing.

"A significant number of the local residents are elderly and have lived peacefully here for many years, enjoying the tranquility of the area."

She also raised concerns over the welfare of horses kept and ridden in the surrounding area, and the safety of riders.

"The peace and tranquillity of Hoath will be preserved..."

"In my opinion, shooting in close proximity to lanes regularly used by horses is highly dangerous and likely to result in serious accidents," she wrote.

"Horses are flight animals and will react to unexpected and loud noises."

Ms Henry fears nearby paths "enjoyed by numerous local horse riders for decades, would become too risky for riders to use".

But Mr Pike stresses the air guns will "generate very little noise".

"I would be surprised if anyone outside the immediate vicinity away would hear any noise at all," he says in planning documents.

"The bund will reduce any noise to almost negligible and reduce the chance of any pellets leaving the range.

"There will be no disturbance to wildlife or domestic animals, and the peace and tranquillity of Hoath will be preserved."

He added that the range will be used by a private members' club, rules of which state that "no wildlife on or around the land is to be harmed".

"There are a large amount of airgun shooters in the community that are crying out for somewhere safe to practice their sport, and this range will provide a perfect and safe venue for them," he said.

But the city council's environmental protection department says more information is needed regarding the noise the range would create.

Commenting on the plans, officer Adam Lee said: "It is not clear how effective the bund will be at controlling noise.

"A noise impact assessment should be carried out by a suitably qualified acoustic consultant."