They went against advice of planning officers to approve the scheme, which would have created over 500 new jobs in the region.

The multi-million-pound project from BAE Systems would have seen a business park, hotel, pub, restaurant, and shops built on land between Warton and Freckleton.

But the plans were thrown out amid fears that the scheme would damage local businesses and bring too much traffic to streets in and around the Lytham Road site.

Residents voiced their concerns at a heated three-and-a-half hour meeting at Freckleton Community Hall.

Mike Adamson, a resident of Lytham Road, said: "Lytham Road is already a busy road and if we add any more traffic then it simply will not be able to cope.

"The scheme allows people to do their shopping at night at the same time as you have the BAE workers coming out of work. Traffic is going to be backed up through the village."

Lee Cooper, who lives nearby, said: "At the moment it is very peaceful and quiet where I live but the scheme will bring all sorts of noise and light pollution."

Councillors decided to go against recommendations from planning officers and voted to reject the scheme by 13 votes to nil.

Freckleton councillor Kieran Mullholland said: "We have put up for years with flights buzzing over our heads because we recognise the benefits to our economy.

"We could lose so much trade from Aerospace employees. This could decimate what we know as a pleasant village centre."

Kirkham Councillor Peter Hardy said that BAE had not listened to local residents.

"There seems to be an arrogance on the part of BAE. It seems to me that they aren't working with the community."