Young athletes will be able to train at night after councillors granted permission for floodlights to be built at playing fields in an Oxfordshire village.

Officers at South Oxfordshire District Council had objected to the floodlights at the new multi-sport play area in Little Milton, near Thame.

They said the lights would pollute the village, which has no street lights.

But councillors on the northern area planning committee heard that the lighting would be sited as far away as possible from houses on a corner of the playing field.

Parish council chairman Dr Jay Herbert said the entire village supported the new play area and wanted see it used.

He told the committee: "Little Milton has bought its recreation ground, is fundraising for a new village hall, has funded and built a new pre-school hall and has raised money for a play area. The aim is now to provide leisure facilities for older children and adolescents, and that's why we need the lighting."

He was backed by village hall management committee vice chairman Stuart McGill.

Mr McGill said: "Support has come from the village through a survey and public meetings.

"The light standards will be low, at 6m, and they will eventually be masked by the new village hall."

Committee chairman Mary Stiles said she had sympathy with the aims of the village but felt the lighting would be too obtrusive.

Member Anne Purse said the lack of lighting at the play area coincided with a dramatic drop in the number of people using it.

Councillors on the committee voted by eight to two in favour of the proposal.