A wind turbine will not be built on farmland in Marden - for now.

Campaigners against the 416ft structure breathed a sigh of relief this week when they heard Wind Direct had withdrawn their application.

Had they been successful, the turbine would have been sited in a picturesque part of the countryside off Sheephurst Lane.

Objectors claimed that TV coverage would be affected, houses would be blighted and the countryside ruined by the turbine.

John Webley, chairman of Kent Weald Action Group, said he was delighted that the application had been withdrawn but claimed it had been flawed from the start. He said the map which had accompanied the application to Maidstone council had shown a different location.

The council wrote to Wind Direct giving them a deadline of last Friday for a new application and warning that the first one would be deemed to have been withdrawn as officers had not received sufficient information.

Roger Adley, a spokesman from Maidstone council, confirmed the application had been withdrawn and no new one had been submitted "as yet".