A natural burial site proposed for a farm site near Dorchester has been withdrawn.

The site, north of the old Roman road between Winterbourne Abbas and Compton Valence near the junction to a dairy, was first proposed to Dorset Council for planning consent in the spring.

Leedam Natural Heritage, which was behind the proposal, say the use is compatible with an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would have provided a useful income to support local farming. It was said that sheep would have continued to graze on the site, had it gone ahead.

The application had not attracted any objections, either from any of the statutory consultees, or public. The company has not said why it has withdrawn the proposal.