AWARD winning village blacksmith Philip Grob has finally won permission to fashion a new forge at his base in Over Wallop.

Mr Grob - who won Rural Business of the Year in this year's Test Valley Business Awards - was backed by the vast majority of planning councillors this week.

For the second time they went against the recommendation of planning officers who argued that it was an unjustified development in the countryside and would cause highways problems.

Chief planner told Test Valley Borough Council's full planning committee that the council should be encouraging people to work from home. She said: "The difference here is that he is seeking to put up a new building in a residential curtilage and expand the business at home.

And she added: "I know it seems that we are being unhelpful to a start-up business but the question is how do we control the increased use of the access?"