It's one of Britain's most famous coastlines - best known for featuring in the hit series Doc Martin - but locals living near Port Isaac say they are now desperately fighting to protect their unspoiled landscape from an enormous eco project.

Plans for an industrial seaweed farm the size of the London Olympic Park near Port Quin were almost waved through without objection.

However, when the application was discovered by chance, residents launched a series of campaigns.  

Meanwhile, another scheme of a similar size further along the coast was already approved before most people realised anything was happening.

Many feared the offshore eco development would harm tourism and ruin holidays in a region that attracts 500,000 visitors per day during the peak summer months.

Luckily, in April residents - backed by celebrities including Doc Martin himself, Martin Clunes, and Walking Dead actor and surfer Andrew Lincoln - celebrated what they thought was victory when the application was refused outright by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

But their joy was short-lived as one of the applicants - Camel Fish Ltd - has now appealed claiming they weren't given a fair chance to make their case.

Local resident Barnaby Kay who has led the opposition campaign said: 'We are absolutely devastated that this process has now moved to appeal, despite our colossal efforts to prove that the seaweed farm proposal is unviable in Port Quin Bay.

The picturesque region heavily relies on tourism and attracts 500,000 visitors per day during the peak summer months

Port Isaac is one of Britain's most famous coastlines - best known for featuring in the hit series Doc Martin

Documents show MMO refused the application over concerns it might cause significant harm to the environment, the coastal landscape and local fishing activity

'We wholeheartedly support the development of the seaweed cultivation industry in the UK, but not this applicant, with this proposal, in this location.

'We will continue to fight against this, there is still huge public anger about the application.'

Documents show MMO refused the application over concerns it might cause significant harm to the environment, the coastal landscape and local fishing activity.

The report concludes: 'Based on the existing information the proposed activities currently represent unacceptable risk to existing users of the sea.'

A hearing on the appeal is set to take place in January and a Crowdfunder set up to pay for a barrister to represent residents has already raised more than £5,000.

Clunes - who filmed on the coast from 2004 to 2022 - previously hit out at the proposal, saying. 'It's a hideous plan, in a beautiful and special area.