Work at the site began without planning permission

Fruit grower S&A Produce had already started work on the project at Brierley Court Farm, near Leominster.

But on Wednesday, Herefordshire County Council vetoed further development after locals, supported by TV gardener Monty Don, mounted a protest.

The company says it will appeal against the decision.

I am delighted because the people of Herefordshire have been heard, people feel bullied and threatened Monty Don

It had wanted to build mobile homes, a cinema, football pitches, a shop, doctor's surgery and a swimming pool on the site.

The company, which uses about 2,000 migrants from across Europe during the harvest season, uses temporary plastic-covered greenhouses to grow its strawberries on a site covering more than 100 acres

The workers, many of them students, are employed legally under the government's seasonal agricultural workers' scheme.

But local people were strongly opposed to the plans for the village.

Fight goes on

On Wednesday their concerns were backed by councillors who voted against the development by 18 to one - with one abstention.

Television gardener Monty Don, who lives in the area and is president of the Arrow Vale Residents' Association, said it was an "historic day" but the battle had not been won.

"Obviously I am delighted because the people of Herefordshire have been heard, people feel bullied and threatened as it was all done without planning permission.

"This is not a farm development - it is a food factory on hundreds of acres with workers coming in their thousands."

He added: "It's not over, it goes on, the residents' association will not be disbanding, the time to disband is when this farm complies with all the laws and regulations of the land."

Mr Don added the local economy would not benefit as the money was "going into the hands of a few people."

"The tourist economy would be ravaged."