The Duchess of York has reacted in delight at news that councillors refused plans for a massive warehouse, thought to be the future home of Amazon.

Councillors on Wednesday night rejected an application for the massive 630,000 square foot warehouse - one of the largest in the UK - on the grounds that its impact on the landscape, green infrastructure and biodiversity of its surroundings would be too great.

Much of the two-hour long debate centred around whether the destruction of the countryside and 70 mature trees, of which more than 100,000 people had petitioned the council to stop, was worth the jobs that would be created.

Reacting to the news the following afternoon (Thursday), Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, said that the mature oak trees inspired her book The Enchanted Oak Tree an said "today we can celebrate".

Affectionately known as Fergie, she is the former wife of Prince Andrew and grew up on a farm in Dummer.

Taking to Instagram this afternoon, the Duchess said: "We won! Basingstoke councillors voted [9-2] to overturn plans for one of the largest warehouses in the UK which would have destroyed 67 ancient oak trees near my childhood home.

"They inspired my book The Enchanted Oak Tree and I am one of 103,000 people who signed a petition calling for a rethink.

"On the eve of the COP26 summit, this shows how local democracy can work and protect our precious natural environment. Developers may yet appeal but today we can celebrate."

Six months after the plans for an Amazon warehouse were initially approved, councillors voted down the slightly amended scheme on Wednesday night in an extraordinary set of circumstances after a parish council threatened to take legal action.

You can read the full report on the decision here.