Thousands of tonnes of earth which were illegally dumped in a Bradford beauty spot will have to be moved after a concerted campaign by residents.

Over a five-month period, about 10,000 lorry loads were emptied on to the field off Cockin Lane, Clayton, obliterating one family's once glorious view of a valley.

Residents were furious as 100 trucks a day rattled down the narrow lane - which has signs warning that it is unsuitable for heavy vehicles - to reach the site.

John Sinclair, who lives next to the tipping site, said his life had been "made like hell" because of the noise and dust generated by the huge lorries.

Bradford Council issued an enforcement notice on the field's owners, the Bradford Royal Mail Sports Club, which had wanted to turn the field into a football pitch. It ordered the club to remove the earth which exceeded the height agreed under planning permission which was granted in 1994.

The club appealed against the order, but that has now been thrown out by the Government's Planning Inspectorate.

Today Mr Sinclair said he was "relieved" by the decision, which should force the club to organise the removal of the excess material dumped by Bradford firm Delaneys.

"We have fought like mad for this decision," said Mr Sinclair, 68, "These people think they can just come along and do what they like regardless of the law.

"Of course, I don't want the wagons back but if we have to suffer 12 weeks of them in order to have our views back for the rest of our lives, then that's what we'll do."

Mr Sinclair and his wife Jean bought their home as a rural retreat to enable them to care for their daughter Angela, 40, who was horrifically injured in a road accident in 1971 when she was eight years old. He said their views of the valley had been ruined by the mountains of earth that had been dumped there.

"What they did was wrong. Bradford Council have clearly explained all the legal reasons why they should not have done this."

In his written report, Inspector Clive Whitehouse agreed with the Council's claim that the amount of tipped material exceeded that needed to level the field. He said the result of the tipping was that "the land becomes increasingly elevated above the adjoining fields and dry stone walls".

But Steven Powell, of the Bradford Royal Mail Sports Club, said he believed the Inspector's decision was "wrong" and said he would consider an appeal.