Villagers have demanded that developers do not build homes near to a conservation area.

On Saturday about 100 villagers carrying placards marched through Loose to stage a protest against Antler Homes' plan to build four houses on the site of a bungalow in Busbridge Road.

People living there say the homes will obliterate views of the countryside, encroach on a conservation area and turn a narrow village lane into an accident blackspot.

Plans for the four homes were put forward in September, but a planning appeal is now due to be heard on June 17 and 18, after Maidstone council refused the application.

Cllr Ben Sherreard (Con), who represents Loose at Maidstone council and who led the march, said: "I expected 20 people to turn up, but this shows the strength of feeling and that the whole village is united against this."

A spokesman for Antler Homes told the Kent Messenger last week that the location for the homes was a brownfield and derelict site and their plans would help achieve the government’s house building targets.