A public inquiry has been launched after an appeal hearing to consider four planning applications on the former Manston Airport site was cancelled.

The hearing was due to take place tomorrow but the cancellation comes after the Planning Inspectorate notified Thanet District Council that ‘matters are too complex and controversial to proceed by way of a hearing’.

The council's planning committee was due to consider changes to the use of buildings on the site to non-aviation purposes.

A statement from the council said it understood that the "decision was made on the basis ‘the evidence will need to be properly tested through formal questioning’ and cited the ‘likely number of participants’ as other reasons why a hearing procedure would not be suitable."

A spokesman from the Planning Inspectorate confirmed that a decision on launch date is expected to be announced soon.

All correspondence previously submitted by Stone Hill Park to the council will still be considered as part of the inquiry process.

The public will get their first chance to quiz an American company which wants to reopen Manston airport at a consultation event today.

The consultation with RiverOak will take place at Broadstairs Pavilion, Harbour Street, from 2pm to 8pm.