Councillors approved plans for 150 homes in a South Norfolk village despite concerns about increasing volumes of traffic on small country lanes which could endanger the safety of children.

South Norfolk Council's development management committee gave the go ahead to Sean Marten's outline application to build 150 homes on land west of Norwich Road and south of Caistor Lane, Poringland at a meeting yesterday.

However, the council received 47 objection letters from residents, who were concerned about an increase in traffic in Caistor Lane which they said would make the existing 'rat run' even worse.

Other fears were over drainage problems and noise associated with the development affecting local residents.

Caistor Lane resident David Gooderham told the meeting: 'Money should be put in to mitigate these problems.

'Minimal measures will make no difference to traffic flows. There are problems with young children getting to primary school and the rat run in Caistor Lane.'

But Peter Biggs, head of planning with developer David Wilson Homes, said additional mitigation measures could be introduced including the widening of the junction between Norwich Road and Caistor Lane.

He added: 'David Wilson Homes has demonstrated that all the demonstrable impacts of this site can be dealt with through mitigation.'