Plans for a new tourist development at a West Cumbrian hotel will not be discussed at a meeting today after its owners asked for it to be put back.

Ian and Caroline Hughes, who own the Melbreak Hotel near Great Clifton, want to build a caravan park and 20 camping pods in a field behind the hotel.

Allerdale council's development panel was today due to consider the plans, which planning officers have recommended for approval.

But a council spokesman confirmed that the applicants had asked for it to be deferred.

The planned development, which would cost about £1.5 million, is similar to a previous scheme which was approved for the site eight years ago, but on a much smaller scale.

Permission was then granted for a holiday park, leisure club, restaurant, 60 log cabins and 42 extra bedrooms in the hotel.

This was met with opposition from people in nearby Bridgefoot, but the work never went ahead and planning permission expired.

The new plans are for 14 pitches, 20 camping pods, toilet, shower and dish washing areas and 34 parking spaces.

The new site would also bring in 12 jobs with a mixture of full-time and part-time positions.