The owners of a Stoneleigh cottage are battling to keep a new patio and gazebo that were built without planning permission.

Warwick District Council has already refused to grant retrospective approval for the works at The Bank, saying they harm the openness of the green belt.

But now the owners have submitted an appeal to the planning inspectorate in a bid to get the decision overturned.

If the appeal is dismissed, the patio and gazebo may have to be ripped out.

"The development represents 'inappropriate development' within the green belt and is considered to result in harm by definition and by reason of harm to openness," the council wrote when the original application was refused.

Stoneleigh and Ashow Parish Council also objected, saying the structure may be unsafe, there may be light pollution and a loss of privacy for neighbours.

The original application said the gazebo and new Cotswold stone effect slabs replaced previous fencing and patio which was "unstable and in a poor state of repair".

The planning appeal argues the garden makeover has not impacted the green belt.

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The owners argued it "does not undermine the fundamental aim of green belt of preventing urban sprawl and of keeping land permanently open".

"By reason of the gazebo's significant degree of separation from the listed cottage, the gazebo has a neutral impact on setting," the appeal argued.

"Similarly, by reason of its modest scale including height, and largely hidden position, coupled with its design and materials, the gazebo structure is appropriate for a garden setting, without harm to the prevailing character of the conservation area."

Click here to see the application in full.