Animal rights campaigners are celebrating after controversial plans to build a slaughterhouse near Henfield were withdrawn.

Members of vegetarian campaign group Viva! demonstrated outside Horsham District Council offices two weeks ago to call on councillors to turn down an application for an abattoir at Blackstone Gate Wood.

A council spokesman said today farmer and haulier Ron Gander had decided not to proceed with the application after learning the planning committee was due to recommend it be refused.

The committee was concerned the buildings could have been sited on ancient woodland and found the scale of the buildings unacceptable.

But a district councillor said Mr Gander could put in another application.

Objectors sent more than 700 letters to the council against Mr Gander's plan.

Nearby residents believed the scheme could ruin an area of ancient woodland and destroy their way of life.

Other organisations which objected included Sussex Wildlife Trust, Friends of the Earth, English Nature, the Woodland Trust, the Forestry Commission, Compassion in World Farming, the Environment Agency, the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

District councillor John Marsh said today: "Most local people I have spoken to have been careful to say they are not against an abattoir in general. They can see there is an interest.

"They were primarily concerned with this site and its close proximity to their houses.

"My understanding is Mr Gander is considering alternative applications within his holdings and, reasonably, he has asked the planning department to advise him as to the merits of various options which are in the interest of everyone.

"In the light of that I presume he will submit a new application."

Viva! campaigner Becky Smith said: "We are delighted the council responded to the overwhelming number of objection letters it received and planned to refuse this application.

"It is heartening that local people are still able to have influence over what happens to their countryside."

Mr Gander declined to comment.