A row over whether a car boot sale should be allowed to continue has finally come to an end.

An application to hold the event on 12 Sundays between April and October at Field End School, in Field End Road, Eastcote, was refused at Hillingdon Council's north planning committee last Wednesday.

The sales were held at the school for four and a half years without any problems before residents started to complain in 2007 about noise, parking, and traffic problems generated by the event.

Hillingdon Council told the organisers to apply for planning permission, and a petition containing 113 signatures and 30 letters were sent objecting to it as well as a 307-signature petition and four letters supporting it.

The organiser, Irene Calver, 56, of Raynton Drive, Hayes, said: "Car boot sales benefit the local people, and in this economic climate people are looking for events like this to raise extra income.

"I used to run a car boot sale at the recreation ground opposite the school for 20 years, and there was one at

Queensmead School, but they closed so there's nothing in the area now."

Field End School has also benefited a lot from the event and its governors are disappointed about the decision.

Geoff Cooper, chair of governors, said: "The money we receive from the car boot sale is an excellent source of income. It has helped pay for double glazing in 15 rooms in the school, and decorating all the classrooms.

"All the money goes towards the school and the kids, and they will lose out now. It's a great loss."

The planning committee members decided to refuse the application because of the traffic congestion and the impact it would have on the residents in Field End Road, The Fairway, and Mount Pleasant.

Velu Johns, of Field End Road, said: "All the residents feel this is the wrong area for a car boot sale. Whatever measures the organisers put in place can't prevent the congestion, noise and disturbance."

An application to run table top sales 10 times a year and antique fairs nine times a year, inside the school on Sundays, was approved by the committee and that is expected to start next month.

* For more information call Mrs Calver on 0208 561 4517.