A scaffolding company which was operating on greenbelt land with no planning permission has been told to leave.

Three Rivers District Council took enforcement action last summer against Watford Scaffolding Ltd which has a site off the A41 near Hunton Bridge.

The council says it received a "significant number of complaints" in early 2018 concerning the use of the land, which had been turned into a scaffolding contractor's yard.

The company said it had moved to the A41 site after it was forced from its previous site at short notice.

After the council's enquiries established the company had changed the use of the A41 land without planning permission, an enforcement investigation was opened.

In August 2018, an enforcement notice was served, on the basis that the unauthorised use was "inappropriate" in the greenbelt and that it had a "detrimental and unneighbourly impact" on nearby residents.

A government planning inspector has now agreed with the district council, after the scaffolding company, which employs 50 people, lodged an appeal against the council's enforcement action.

After dismissing the appeal, the inspector ruled the company must stop using the site, clear it, and return the land to its previous condition, within four months.

The company could be prosecuted under the Planning Acts if it fails to comply with the inspector's decision.

Leader of Three Rivers District Council, Cllr Sara Bedford, said: "The council will not hesitate to take action to protect residents and land from unauthorised use and development."