A group of residents said they are prepared to take their opposition to a controversial plan for 15 homes all the way to a judicial review.

Despite protests the application for Barton Orchard in Tipton St John was approved, subject to a legal agreement, by the district council last month.

But a group of locals say they are not giving up their fight to block the development, which is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and have asked for it to be reassessed with new evidence.

Residents reacted angrily when the proposals, which include 10 affordable homes, were first submitted by Paul Humphries Architects at the end of last year, comparing the design of the houses to ‘nuclear bunkers’.

At several public meetings they claimed building at Barton Orchard would increase flood-risk, cause major traffic problems and be an eyesore visible to much of the village.

East Devon District Council approved the plans, but a group of locals, Margaret Hutchinson, Bill Bolt, Claire Williamson and John Harding, are asking them to review the decision again after last weekend’s flooding.

Mr Harding said: “We are seriously worried that any building in Barton Orchard will exacerbate the problems of flooding that we have seen in the past week.

“We believe with all the new evidence on flooding and with sewage we have grounds for the application to be looked at again.”

But he said if they need to take the process to a full judicial review, a long and often costly procedure, then they are willing to do so.

“We have already had people pledging us funds saying if you need it to continue the fight against building at Barton Orchard then we will help,” Mr Harding added.