A couple embroiled in a row over an extension built at a residential home will have to wait until the new year to find out whether they will get compensation.

And Bill and Olwen Sharp say they still hope the extension at the Abbeydale Residential Home in Ilkley, which was built with planning permission, will be removed.

Members of Bradford Council's Keighley area planning panel had been due to consider a report on the issue during yesterday's meeting.

But it was deferred until January to enable councillors to consider the matter further.

Permission for the almost completed two-storey extension at the Grove Road site was granted in August 1999 despite objections by Mr and Mrs Sharp, of Hebers Ghyll Drive, that it would be over-dominant and too close to the boundary with their property.

After planning permission was granted they complained about the way in which the application was handled by the Council, which has now admitted mistakes were made.

The report to yesterday's meeting included recommendations for members to consider whether the Sharps, who have been in their five-bedroom detached house for 15 years, should be compensated and not to pursue enforcement action in relation to the extension.

Commenting on the extension, which is partially occupied by elderly residents, following the meeting, Mr Sharp said their argument was with the council rather than Abbeydale's owner.

The semi-retired management consultant said: "It's just over a metre away from our boundary.

"It's over-dominant, far too close to us and overshadows us. It looks hideous and takes out all the light. It can't be screened because there's not enough room to put in any trees.

"There's been an unacceptable loss of privacy and it infringes our human rights on the basis that we have a right to enjoy our property. We wish it had never been built and want appropriate action to be taken. We would prefer the extension wasn't there and until we've eliminated that possibility that's our line.''

Abbeydale owner Catherine Dey said: "It's been deferred so we can't really say anything at the moment but hopefully it will be resolved amicably in the new year.

"At the end of the day we were given planning permission and haven't done anything wrong so I wouldn't have thought it would be taken down voluntarily.''