OZZY Osbourne has had planning permission to convert a barn on his Bucks estate into housing turned down - because of the impact it could have on bats.

The former Black Sabbath singer once famously claimed to have chewed the head off a bat - and now the nocturnal creatures have bitten back.

Chiltern District Council has ruled that two surveys to determine how many bats live in the building and how their habitat could be disturbed by construction work need to be carried out before planning permission can be given.

Bats are a protected species by law and a council planning officer ruled the creatures could be affected by the development.

Mr Osbourne, who starred with his family in a successful long-running reality TV show, had applied to the council to convert a barn at his estate at Stone Dean Farm in Jordans into a two bedroom dwelling.

The council officially rejected the application on Friday.