PLANNERS have thrown out contentious plans to move a laboratory to a Hampshire village.

Wickham Laboratories asked Winchester planning chiefs if it could relocate its operations to Torbay Farm, Lower Upham.

Outside Winchester’s Guildhall, around 25 animal activists waved placards and chanted slogans opposing the plans.

Roy Botterell, speaking on behalf of Wickham Laboratories, said the application was part of the company’s development to take it into the 21st century.

But yesterday planners unanimously rejected the application, on the grounds that the proposed building was too big for the rural setting.