A quarry near Ashby has been given approval to continue its work into the latter part of the century.

The company which runs Breedon Quarry, near Breedon on the Hill, says it will take 55 years to remove the 25 million tonnes of limestone and gravel material remaining at the site.

Leicestershire county councillors voted to extend the time the quarry is allowed to operate from 2042 to 2078, allowing Breedon Group plc to work at the site for an extra 36 years.

Quarrying has taken place at Breedon since before planning laws were introduced. Planning permission was first given for the quarry in 1947 and a number of applications have been made over the years, including to extend the quarry's work to the east.

The council revealed only two representations were made by the public as part of the consultation: one concerning views of Breedon Church as a result of the quarry's planting scheme, and the other highlighting concerns about noise and dust, among other issues.

At a meeting of the council's Development Control and Regulatory Board, Katie Ferguson, from the council's planning team, addressed the public's concerns, explaining: "The working methods are not proposed to alter at Breedon Quarry and therefore it's considered these details can be suitably controlled by existing planning conditions."

Once the quarry is exhausted, the more-than-70-hectare site will be restored using original soil removed during the quarrying process, creating an area of 'agricultural grassland and native woodland' around a 'central body of water'.

Coun Dan Harrison said: "I'm really impressed that they're going to retain the soil onsite, because it belongs there so it's quite natural that they're using the soil. I'd imagine it's going to save hundreds and hundreds of lorries bringing soil back to the site."

Ms Ferguson confirmed the site will be subject to a phased restoration, with work beginning to restore areas that are no longer active as the quarry operations move into the eastern extension.

Councillors raised concerns over dust monitoring and the potential for birdstrikes affecting planes departing from and arriving at nearby East Midlands Airport after the site is restored to grass and woodland.

Ms Ferguson explained the system of dust monitoring using gauges, with the results sent to the council, which can take action if levels are too high. She also confirmed the gauges will be moved to different locations in the quarry, depending on where work is taking place.

She added there are conditions within the existing planning permission ensuring the company must comply with aerodrome birdstrike regulations, aimed at protecting planes.

The application to extend the life of the quarry was considered at the same time as another application, known as a Review of Old Mineral Permissions (ROMP), with councillors voting to permit both.

Ms Ferguson added of the ROMP: "It is about updating conditions attached to an existing planning permission to ensure that they meet modern standards."