Developers were accused on Monday night of destroying Bournemouth as civic planners considered applications to build six new flat blocks across the borough.

Members of the council's planning board rejected their officer's recommendation to grant permission for two blocks in Lowther Road, Charminster, after hearing impassioned pleas from local residents.

And the chairman Cllr John Beesley used his casting vote to refuse plans for a three to four storey building of eight flats at The Clock Garage site in Ringwood Road.

But applications for another three new blocks, totalling 84 flats, were given the green light.

Revised plans for 40 flats above Argos in Christchurch Road, Boscombe, were approved after developers agreed to increase amenity space and provide security lighting with CCTV cameras.

Ward councillor Phil Stanley-Watts warned that providing so many flats on the site would be "storing up problems for the future."

And Cllr Mike Everingham said: "If you continue to force large numbers of people into small spaces they will, sooner or later, behave like rats.

"This will cause social problems our town has never seen before."

Cllr Ian Newport said he was also concerned about "the building of rabbit warrens" in Bournemouth.

Cllr David Smith blasted developers for destroying Bournemouth. He said: "Over 90 per cent of all buildings in this conurbation are one or two bedroom flats.

"One has to ask if that is a sustainable way of developing this town for the future."

He suggested that the council should join forces with local community groups in a bid to stop "this massacre of our town."

Despite receiving 44 letters of objection, the board approved plans for a five to seven storey block of 36 apartments in Branksome Wood Road.

And plans to build a three storey block of flats at Foxholes Road were also granted.

But developers were refused permission for the Ringwood Road flats scheme.

Cllr Roger West branded the plans as "ghastly for a landmark building" while ward councillor Ted Taylor said the proposals were "totally out of character for the area."