A VENUE for 'extreme' sports deep in the Herefordshire countryside has secured its future - for the time being at least.

The Out to Grass Mountain Board Centre has been granted temporary planning permission to retain a portable building for a reception, shop and toilet block, hard-standing, campsite and car park.

Woodend Farm at Cradley hosts the sport of mountain boarding, a fast-flowing activity which combines the arts of snowboarding and skateboarding.

The centre has previously hosted the National Championships but it faced possible closure if planners failed to give it their blessing last week.

But with their support owner Ian Johnson is now hoping to stage another round of the championships sometime in July.

Centre owner Mr Johnson said: "We are very pleased with the outcome and I would like to thank the new ward councillor for all his support. Unfortunately, because we have not been given full planning permission, it stops up from applying for grant funding."

Ledbury and District Society Trust Limited and Cradley Parish Council backed the application, while planners received 75 letters of support and a petition signed by more than 600 people in favour of the scheme.

But objectors expressed concern about the impact the activity has on their 'amenity' and 'road safety.'

Herefordshire Council's planning officer Kevin Bishop said: "Mountain boarding is an activity which does not generally generate noise from equipment but does from the participants, spectators and amplified sound which is used when the centre holds a major event such as a National Championships."

The temporary planning permission will end on January 28 next year, allowing the planning authority to consider the proposed use of the site.