A wildlife rescue centre will not be allowed to build an emergency unit to treat seals and wildfowl after its planning appeal was dismissed.

Wildlives Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre appealed against Tendring Council's decision not to allow the short-stay emergency unit in Frating Road, Thorrington.

Owner Rosie Catford wanted a place to treat seals in the district because the next closest facility is at East Winch in Norfolk.

Tendring Council refused the plans for a second time because they conflicted with highway safety and would lead to an increase in the use of an existing sub-standard road.

Ms Catford said: "I am very disappointed because the facility really is needed.

"Basically, it only would have been about 12 or 15 extra vehicles per year.

"It will be the seals who are the ones that will suffer."

A report by officers at Tendring Council said the planning inspector considered the main issue in the case to be the effect of the proposed development on highway safety and the free flow of traffic.

"The highway verges are too narrow to enable a vehicle to park clear of the carriageway," it said. "As a consequence, vehicles parking outside the site present an obstruction to traffic.

"The inspector accepted that the seal and wildfowl unit would generate only a very small number of additional vehicle movements.

"Despite this, the inspector agreed with the highway authority that any additional use of the existing sub-standard accesses would pose an increased risk to highway safety."