More than 1,000 residents of Houghton signed a petition

Cumbria Police submitted plans for the custody suite at their traffic base in Houghton to replace the Rickergate site, damaged in the January floods.

About 1,000 people signed a petition against the plans and dozens attended the planning meeting on Thursday.

Members of Carlisle City Council's planning development control committee said it was an inappropriate location.

Councillors had been recommended to back the plans, but a council spokeswoman said councillors voted six to five against them.

Cumbria Police chiefs had moved to allay the fears of some residents, who claimed released prisoners could put children and property at risk.

But the force said it would provide guaranteed transport for all prisoners, base two community officers at the new site and set-up a community forum to monitor the facility.