A couple has been granted planning permission for changes made to their new home despite carrying them out without consent.

Mr and Mrs Wills had applied for permission for the changes they made to their newly-built home in Mylor Downs near Falmouth.

Planning permission had been granted for a two-storey house and garage in 2018.

But the couple altered the plans during construction and added a third storey to the house with roof lights and dormer windows and linked the garage to the main house building. The garage building is also larger and higher than that approved.

Cornwall Council's central sub-area planning committee made a decision on the plans when it met this morning.

The changes were strongly criticised by local Cornwall councillor John Symons who said the applicants had "blatantly disregarded" conditions placed on the original application.

And Mylor Parish Council also objected saying "the applicant took no notice of previous comments and proceeded to build what they wanted without permission, even though there were opportunities to submit revised plans, which could have been taken".

They added: "It sends out a poor message to each and every applicant that go through the planning process."

In their report planning officers said they shared the frustration and disappointment of the parish council but the application had to be considered on its own merits.

They said it was a "finely balanced" decision but they recommended that the plans be approved as, while they caused harm to the area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), they were considered to be acceptable.

Committee member John Dyer proposed that the application be approved as recommended by the officers with an addition that an extra window be installed into the garage building.

Martyn Alvey said he could not support the application as it was "very different" from the original plan and the changes went well beyond what had been permitted.

Alan Jewell said the applicants had "just built what they wanted to build" and made a "mockery of what we are trying to do".

He also added: "I reckon that garage will not be a garage much longer."

However when put to the vote the committee voted to grant planning permission with eight votes in favour and five against.