A Norwich artist has painted a woodland scene as part of a protest against plans to develop woods in Thorpe St Andrew.

Painter Paul Osborne walks his two collie dogs daily in Racecourse woods, off Plumstead Road East, and decided to paint one of the views he enjoys most.

Plans are being drawn up for at least 630 homes, and possibly as many as 800, in a major development for the Belmore, Racecourse and Brown's Plantations off Salhouse Road, Plumstead Road East and Pound Lane.

Mr Osborne, who lives in Barclay Green, Heartsease, said: ' 'I've spent a lot of time in Racecourse over the years and painted scenes there before. With the present possibility of losing it all, I felt an increasing need to take this time to make some form of record of what this place means to me and to try and make that viewable.

'It's of my favourite views at the centre of Racecourse Plantation and of the deer that I've been lucky enough to stumble across from time to time. I hope the woods remain as a far better record of many years of life.'

Mr Osborne, 42, has been painting for 20 years and says some of his earliest works were inspired by the wood.

The Friends of Thorpe Woodlands, a local group set up to campaign to keep the woods, say the plans would decimate an important wildlife site.

The two landowners behind the development plans are the Thorpe and Felthorpe Trust and the John Gurney Charitable Trust.

What do you think of the plans? Write to the Evening News at Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE, or email us at eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk