The future of a 'grand design' in a leafy coastal village is set to be decided, after a breach of planning rules sparked a furious row that saw a parish council bombarded with abusive calls.

Mr and Mrs Middleton had hoped to build their dream house in Wodehouse Road, Old Hunstanton, to create a family home close to other family members.

The street is named after PG Wodehouse, the author of the Jeeves and Wooster stories, who was a frequent visitor to the village. 

Jeeves and Wooster, played by (left) Hugh Laurie and Stephen FryJeeves and Wooster, played by (left) Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry (Image: Archive)

However, the couple from Lincolnshire ran into trouble after villagers complained that it had been built as a three-storey home, rather than two, as they believed it should have been.

This generated a huge amount of anger in the community and West Norfolk Council (WNC) received a flurry of objections, with people calling the house "too big and too high."

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A view across the beach at Old HunstantonA view across the beach at Old Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

The village sign at Old HunstantonThe village sign at Old Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

The parish council also received a barrage of abusive phone calls from upset locals, which forced the chairman, Nick Eastwell, to make an extraordinary plea for people to stop the harrying.

However, the Middletons refute there has been a breach of planning conditions, saying the dwelling was always approved as a three-storey home.

They do admit that there have been "slight alterations" to the balcony and windows, as well as an additional basement room.

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The home in Wodehouse Road, Old HunstantonThe home in Wodehouse Road, Old Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

This has led to a retrospective planning application being submitted to WNC.

Amid the furore the parish council continues to object to the changes, stating that accepting them would be "wholly inappropriate" and would set a "dangerous precedent for the future and badly damage the credibility of WNC".

Other locals worry ground levels have been built up more than they should have been.

Despite the controversy, officers have recommended the changes to the plans are approved and that the structure can stay.