Poundbury is the prince's showcase for "responsible planning"

Two proposed developments in Poundbury, Dorset, have been turned down already after residents claimed they would look out of place in a rural setting.

They also said the plans - for 26 to 31 flats - was double the recommended number of homes on the site.

Poundbury was conceived by the prince to inspire town planning, after he criticised modern architecture.

I'm pretty sure we would have been sunk without trace in this David and Goliath situation Residents' spokesperson

A public inquiry, expected to last until Thursday, will examine both sets of plans for the site at Jubilee Court which were rejected by West Dorset District Council.

Forty-one people have objected to the plans.

A spokesman for the residents said: "It is because of the national importance of this scheme that we were approached by a solicitor who helped us find a planning barrister and they have assembled a legal team.

"Without that assistance, I'm pretty sure we would have been sunk without trace in this David and Goliath situation.

"We say it's a very large piece of development in a very small site and it would give sub standard accommodation to the people who would live there and it would spoil the location for the people who live there currently."