A SEARCH for oil in the heart of rural Dorset has been given the green light by county planners.

Egdon Resources has been granted permission to drill for oil on land on the edge of Oakers Wood at Waddock Cross, between Affpuddle and Moreton - a site of special scientific interest.

The company is proposing to drill a single bore hole down to a depth of 700 metres, which would be used to carry out tests for oil.

Once the hole has been dug a nodding donkey-type pump will be installed on the site, but only if tests are deemed appropriate. If tests are not thought necessary, the hole will be filled and the land restored, Dorset County Council's Planning Committee was told yesterday.

They approved the proposal after earlier objections from English Nature were withdrawn.

English Nature had raised concerns that dust from drilling could effect rare lichens found on trees near the site. But after Egdon Resources offered to install measures to stop the dust, English Nature withdrew its opposition.

Monitoring stations will also be set up by English Nature.

Committee members were told that an earlier exploration of the site failed to yield oil but any oil found on the site this time would stored in tanks before being removed by road tankers.

Councillors backed the proposal after being told that once the tests had been completed the land would be restored to its former glory.

Writing in a report to Friday's meeting, Andrew Price, head of planning for Dorset County Council, said: "It has been understood from the outset by the applicants that any approval of an exploration well in no way commits the county council to allowing the site to become a production facility if hydrocarbons are found in commercial quantities."

Dorset County Council's head of environmental services has been give delegated powers to approve the proposal subject to a string of conditions.

County Councillor for the area Coun Malcolm Shakesby said he welcomes the exploration for oil in Dorset.