Villagers have pulled out of a £310,000 deal to buy 12.5 acres of green belt land to stop it being bought by travellers.

The group of six were due to buy the field off London Road, Crays Hill, at well over its going rate to safeguard its future, but failed to sign the contract at the last minute.

Some of the plots, now back on the open market, have already changed hands, according to land agent PropertySpy.

Published Friday, December 2, 2005