Plans for a 105-home development in the oldest part of a West Cumbrian village have been given the go-ahead.

Allerdale council's development panel this week approved outline plans by the trustees of the Copsey family to build 105 new homes at Low Seaton.

The plans include 100 homes on a field behind the Royal British Legion and five homes north of Camerton Road.

However, councillors rejected the Copsey family's proposal to build four homes at Hillside, Camerton Road.

Angry villagers spoke out at the meeting, at Maryport's Wave centre on Tuesday.

Concerns raised included access, road safety, traffic congestion in the village, flooding and over-development.

Planners said a transport assessment carried out at the Main Road and Church Road junction had forecast an additional 34 two-way vehicle movements at morning peak time and an increase of 14 during the evening peak period.

But Lynne Hardman, who lives on Camerton Road, said this did not consider the high usage of the village hall, the Royal British Legion Club, St Paul's Church and other venues which host events during the day and at weekends.

John Ramsden, of Church Road, highlighted issues with flooding in the area of the proposed development. Pictures were shown of flooding caused by heavy rain last month.

Amanda Wallace, chairman of Workington Flood Action Group, also voiced her concerns about the proposed drainage strategy, which includes draining surface water to the River Derwent via the part-culverted watercourse known as Gale Brook.

Mrs Wallace showed a picture of a person walking on the top of a flood defence, parallel to a row of homes in Barepot. The picture shows that while water from the River Derwent was stopped by the defence on one side, water from Gale Brooks was approaching the homes on the other side of the defence.

She said: "The calculations submitted are incomplete. If I had seen some betterment from this project I would not have objected to this application."

Councillor Celia Tibble, district and county councillor for Seaton, said the village already had a population of over 5,000, which exceeds the population of Keswick, and this development combined with the ones recently approved in the village at Lowca Lane and near the former Coachman Inn would create an increase of around 1,000 people. This would raise the population of Seaton to higher than that of Wigton.

She added: "Seaton is a village and moves to seek town status have always been heavily resisted by residents. This development in the centre of the settlement, in the oldest area of the village will change the nature of the area without a doubt.

"I ask you to consider refusal of these developments on the grounds of over development, especially as it is out of character with the area.

"Opposite the entrance to the proposed development is a green where John Wesley preached in 1752 and proclaimed that he was standing on the greenest turf in the country. Please let us try to maintain these sentiments."

David Staniland, planning consultant for Knight Frank, which represents the trustees of the Copsey family, said a public consultation held earlier this year took into consideration the residents' concerns.

He added the development would provide 25 per cent of affordable housing and no objections had been received by statutory consultees such as the local lead flood authority and Cumbria Highways.

Councillors agreed with the planning officer's recommendation that the 105-home development was sustainable.

A condition was attached to the approval that the developer would have to pay o£223,791 to build a 30-pupil classroom at Seaton Junior School to accommodate the extra children the development would bring.

The four-home development at Hillside was rejected after it was considered to have a detrimental impact on the local area, visual amenity and character and to have an adverse effect on road safety. There were six votes in favour of refusal and five against.

Speaking after the meeting, Low Seaton resident Kevin Taylor said: "I'm sick to the gut at this decision. They haven't considered the concerns of the village."

Parish councillor Danny Horsley said: "I'm disappointed. I would like Knight Frank to work with us to bring the best outcome for the village."

Mrs Wallace said: "The residents of Barepot now face an increase risk of flooding. Now my responsibility is to ensure that a detailed, robust drainage strategy is in place to protect my members."