Residents have one day left to voice their opinions on a controversial plan to bring more than 60,000 chickens to a Weald village.

Free-range egg company Fridays Ltd has lodged an application with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to build a huge hen house on farmland in Horsmonden.

If successful the 260-metre building at 32-hectare Pullens Farm, in Lamberhurst Road, would house 64,000 birds.

One resident said: "The site they propose to build on is an area of outstanding natural beauty, ancient woodland will be destroyed in the process, Horsmonden does not need more HGV lorries passing through it and the smell, increase in vermin and flies that this will generate will cause problems for the village."

A spokesman for Horsmonden Parish Council confirmed a public meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday at the village hall, Back Lane, to discuss the plans.

Following the forum the authority will make a recommendation to TWBC.

David Harvey, a spokesman for Fridays, said: "We are currently writing to local residents and will attend the meeting on Monday to discuss their concerns.

"A study of the landscape has been done and found that the building will have very little visual impact on the area.

"In terms of an increase in traffic, the site is well served by roads and most vehicles will come from the south where the rest of the company's farms are. There will be no need for vehicles approaching through Horsmonden."

Responding to concerns about the odour and vermin he added: "Fridays takes its responsibility to deal with vermin very seriously. The building will use the most modern technology to make sure odour is not an issue."

The controversial application follows successful proposals by the poultry giant for expansion in the weald.

"Horsmonden does not need more HGV lorries passing through it and the smell, increase in vermin and flies that this will generate will cause problems for the village." — A concerned resident

In March the company received permission to demolish 12 houses at Cobwell Farm, in Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, and replace them with three larger buildings.

The development will bring 77,180 new hens to the site which already houses 172,180 of the birds.

In September 2013 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council gave Fridays the green light to replace seven structures at Tolehusrt Farm, Cranbrook Road, Frittenden, with two houses.

The move was met with widespread anger by residents who claimed the addition of 39,000 animals to a flock of 57,000 would disrupt their lives.

The firm, which is based at Chequer Tree Farm near Cranbrook and employs 270 people, has previously said it plans to invest in its other 12 farms across the county.

A provisional decision date has been set for Friday, August 14.

To view the application go to bit.ly/fridaysfarm.