Rutland planners have refused a 'tellytubby-style' house, whose planning application made national headlines.

Tabloid media last year noted how the proposal from county councillor June Titterton-Fox (Con- Exton) had created uproar from nearby residents at Whitwell, where she hoped to build the home.

Headlining their story 'Telly-trouble', the Sun called opponents 'Po faced' and said they thought the councillor was in 'Laa Laa land,' using puns from the iconic 1990s BBC TV children's show.

The Daily Star noted how the 61-year-old grandma was 'at war' with neighbours in her 'posh village.'

The Daily Mail reported the councillor claiming a 'campaign of intimidation'.

The planning application to Rutland County Council said the home, to be known as Field House, "advances the 'state of the art' for earth-sheltered buildings."

Exceeding government regulations, it would have its own water supply, waste would be sorted out on site, and excess power sold back to the grid.

However, opponents said the £400,000 eco-home would be "a real blot on the landscape."

They also said: "It is not befitting of the village to have a Teletubby-style Hobbit home becoming an eyesore."

The application was to come before Rutland's Planning Committee last month, but they deferred a decisions and council officers have used their delegated powers to refuse the application instead.

In a council report, recommending refusal, planning staff said the scheme was contrary to local and national planning policies.

They said: "The design of the proposal does not preserve or enhance the special character and appearance of the Conservation Area or fit in with the overall form and layout of its surroundings."

The report also said in summary: "The proposed development will be visually intrusive and impact adversely on the form and character of the area and insufficient information has been submitted which would lead the local authority to consider otherwise.

"Whilst the Field House is a proposal for a near autonomous earth-sheltered dwelling poised for an off-grid existence with a Design SAP Rating of 146A, on balance, this does not overcome the other material considerations which weigh against the development."

It added: "Taking the above into account, it is considered that the proposal is unacceptable and is contrary to both local and national planning policy."