SUFFOLK residents looking forward to the arrival of an Ikea warehouse on their doorsteps have had their hopes dashed after the Swedish furniture giant announced it has withdrawn its plans.

SUFFOLK residents looking forward to the arrival of an Ikea warehouse on their doorsteps have had their hopes dashed after the Swedish furniture giant announced it has withdrawn its plans.

In 2003, the firm won approval for a distribution depot - which would have been nearly three times the size of Stansted Airport - to be built on the outskirts of Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds.

Villagers welcomed the plans, after being told the development would include the construction of a much-needed link road to the A143.

But they have been left disappointed following confirmation yesterday that Ikea had decided not to go ahead with the application and the purchase of the site on the Stanton Industrial Estate, following a review of its needs for distribution space in the UK.