Louis Smith and Sandy Weston, of events company Thirst Aid, applied for a licence to allow them to hold up to 30 weddings per year next to the forest offices on Ridgegate Road, Langley.

The application to Cheshire East council asked to play music and sell alcohol on the site between midday and midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

But residents raised concerns about the effect on wildlife, increased traffic and noise.

Villagers, walkers, cyclists and councillors were among those to pack out a meeting at Langley Village Hall on Monday to fight proposals.

But yesterday, the applicants withdrew the plans.

Coun Hilda Gaddum, Cheshire East councillor for Sutton, said she was relieved.

She said: “I hope it will not be coming back.

“It’s not the right location for a wedding venue as it would spoil people’s quiet enjoyment of the forest.

“I’m very grateful to everyone who has taken an interest in the application and shared their views.”

Marcus Lonyon, 47, who lives near the site and was helping to lead the campaign group, said: “We’ve shown that we are a strong community and will pull together if something like threatens the forest.

“We’d like United Utilities to be aware that we don’t anything like this again.

“The forest should be preserved and we’ll be keeping an eye on things to make sure there are no more applications like this.

“We had a packed meeting of people on Monday, it was a real show of community. There were residents but also people from outside the village, walkers and cyclists who enjoy the forest.

“We have no objection to people using the forest, but don’t want it to spoil other people’s enjoyment.

“There is precious wildlife like herons and bats in the forest and we’re very lucky to have this special place.”

The applicants were unavailable for comment.