A fitness instructor has won her battle to continue running a pole dancing studio from her garage after a planning committee voted in her favour, despite neighbours' complaints about noise and disruption.

Samilou Saunders, a mother in her 40s, has operated the studio from her £700,000 bungalow in Christchurch, Dorset, for five years but faced closure.

It followed complaints by residents who claimed that the business had "devastated" their lives.

The planning committee of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council approved her retrospective application.

A fitness instructor has won her battle to continue running a pole dancing studio from her garage

The application gained seven votes in favour, none against and two abstentions.

The approval includes conditions that no amplified music be played during business hours.

The building also had to revert to a domestic garage if the business ends.

Neighbours complained about the sound of "grunting and loud music" emanating from the garage studio.

The planning committee of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council approved her retrospective application

They also raised concerns about parking problems on residential streets.

Residents feared the business hours of 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to midday at weekends could result in classes running 66 hours weekly, potentially bringing 500 cars to block the street during that time.

The studio's clients, described as including doctors and teachers, accused elderly neighbours of "generational bias" against pole dancing.

Saunders operates the business as a "modest and sustainable" small social enterprise, employing only herself and working approximately 20 hours weekly with classes of up to eight participants.

The studio's clients were described as including doctors and teachers

Saunders told reporters: "This has been going on for nearly two years. It's been a lot of stress and I've been really down about it."

She added: "Some of the things neighbours said were quite horrible and shocking. I don't feel like I can wave and smile at people any more. I feel intimidated. They [objectors] will stand and stare at me when I leave the house."

Rita Raynor, speaking for objectors after the meeting, said she was "disappointed" but stressed: "We accept that people have to make a living, there's no personal animosity."

She insisted: "We are not against it because it's pole dancing, if it had been anything else, like a children's party business, we would feel the same."