Angry residents and councillors have hit out at plans for a housing estate which they say will ruin the character of their village.

Developers want to build 18 three-storey town houses and 18 apartments on land known locally as Spider Fields, off Clayton Lane and The Avenue in Clayton.

About 2,000 people have signed a petition opposing the design of the development after 90 residents met in the village to discuss their concerns.

Petitioner, Chris Grogan, 42, of Clayton Lane, said: "The fact these properties are three-storey has really fired people up. Surrounding the field on Clayton Lane you have traditional Yorkshire Stone and two-storey buildings. These new properties have no resemblance to any others in the village.

"The combination of imitation stone and the size of these buildings means they don't fit in and there's a lot of frustration.

"The old streets around the site are narrow and we have traffic problems as it is."

A number of listed houses and Clayton Cricket Club border the field, which has been set aside under the Council's Unitary Development Plan for new residential properties.

Councillor Elaine Byrom (Con, Clayton and Fairweather Green) said the design resembled "cell blocks and upside-down egg boxes," and joined others in penning a three-page letter of objection to Bradford Council's planning department.

She said: "The design of the houses looks like upturned egg boxes, and the apartment blocks look like prison cells. The field was always going to be built on but we want something sympathetic."

Councillor Adrian Longthorn (Lab, Clayton and Fairweather Green) said: "There is a large amount of opposition, in particular to the inappropriateness of the design. I'm not opposed to there being development. People have to accept it, whether we like it or not. What we don't have to accept is if it is inappropriate to the area."

Phil Turner, 40, lives on The Avenue, and said the field has become a haven for wildlife. "It's the last green area left - the kids call it Spider Fields because of all the wildlife there. It's a stopping place for birds and we've even had partridges on it.

"The village can't sustain any more houses."

Bradford-based firm Century Homes, based in Eccleshill, Bradford, owns the land and has submitted a planning application to the Council. Residents have until Friday to make any formal objections.

"The proposals are to develop the site to provide a blend of traditionally designed yet modern two, three and four-bedroom residential properties. The development will build on the existing character of Clayton, providing high-quality residential accommodation for future residents and generations.

"The site is in a highly sustainable location with good public transport links nearby and easy access to Bradford and the wider region, and as such has been allocated as a phase one housing site in the Bradford UDP. Bringing new residents to Clayton will support new businesses in the area and provide a further boost to the local economy.

"The company has been building homes in the Bradford area for more than 30 years and intends to continue its tradition of quality workmanship at the Clayton site."

For more information about the petition visit www.claytonvillage.org.