VILLAGERS have won their fight to stop a picturesque village near York being "split" by a massive set of gates, which the family of supermarket tycoon Sir Ken Morrison want to guard their home.

Harrogate councillors rejected plans by Sir Ken's daughter, Andrea, and son-in-law, Andrew Shelly, to put 13ft-high electric gates at the entrance to their estate in Nun Monkton, off the A59.

The plans, which were deferred by councillors last month, sparked controversy among villagers, who said it would spoil the "classic view" of St Mary's Church from the village green and send out a signal "that one bit of the village is rich and powerful and the rest isn't".

Coun David Barchard, who spoke at the meeting last night on behalf of the parish council, said he was pleased with the outcome.

"It was a fight to keep a historic village looking like it has done for the last 900 years," said Coun Barchard.

"We think it's essential that the historic view from the green will be preserved and the gates won't do that.

"We don't want to be cut-off from the church and its burial ground."

Mr Shelly previously told the Evening Press the gates were largely for security purposes, because thieves had stolen more than £10,000-worth of goods since they moved in eight years ago.

Updated: 10:43 Wednesday, May 05, 2004