Placard-waving village residents turned out in force for a last ditch show of opposition against plans to convert their only pub and hotel into luxury apartments.

Around 30 Kents Bank residents staged a silent protest as Brian Rogers, an inspector from Her Majesty's Planning Inspectorate, toured the Kents Bank Hotel with planning consultant Brian Barden of Barden Planning Consultants, Kendal, on Tuesday to consider the plans for the building.

Developers Quest Construction Ltd plan to convert the 19th century building into nine apartments but their hopes were dashed earlier this year when South Lakeland District Council planners refused the application, saying that the hotel was still a viable business and should be retained.

Previous owner Tim Capper who told residents that he closed the hotel in January 2004 had previously stated in a letter to SLDC planners to have lost £20,000 of his own money and a further £25,000 invested by family members in an attempt to keep the business afloat but to no avail.

His argument that the hotel was unviable has been repeated by Quest's representatives Barden Planning Consultants as a reason for the conversion to take place.

However, residents argue the business is viable.

Now the Isle-of-Man-based developers who bought the hotel from Mr Capper for £400,000 in August are appealing against the decision, prompting the inspector's visit and a protest from residents, who have gathered a 250-name petition against the controversial proposals.

Valerie Kennedy, of Kents Bank Community Group, said residents were frustrated that Barden Planning Consultants had "rubbished" their arguments to keep the hotel yet they were unable to speak to the inspector during his visit.

"This has been a two-year -long battle that we have been fighting," she said "The hotel was the heart of the community, the only place we could meet socially.

"It was also a hotel that tourists used well it was an unpretentious, comfortable and safe country hotel that is ideal for holidaymakers and cross bay walkers.

"There is nothing else like this in the area."

Brian Winter added residents were also angry that Barden Planning Consultants had said Kents Bank could be classed as a "suburb" of Grange-over-Sands, which has dozens of hotels, rather than a separate community.

"Kents Bank is its own community, with its own post office and train station," he said.

Mr Barden declined to comment about the visit but said that the inspector's decision was expected within the next five weeks.