Labour district councillors Bob Packham and Neville Martin, together with Conservative counterpart Coun Mike Jordan, say the village lacks vital services, including a police and fire station and indoor sports facilities despite its population more than doubling since 1961.

Coun Packham said: "I'm particularly incensed that despite having the largest industrial estate in North Yorkshire, we have no fire station and no effective police station. These and other services should have been provided to keep pace with the massive population growth."

Sherburn was home to 6,650 residents in 2007 – up from 2,776 in 1961 – and could reach 8,500 by 2026 as planning chiefs continue to approve applications for hundreds of new homes.

"It's irrational to continue to increase the population of Sherburn and adjacent parishes without addressing these severe shortcomings", added Coun Packham.

Coun Jordan added: "Bob's done a lot of research into how Sherburn is losing out to other areas and, as a county councillor, I'm lobbying cabinet members to improve facilities."

A district council spokesman said: "Police and fire cover are out of our control, and although there's no leisure facility in Sherburn, the district council does provide outreach leisure services to areas without easy access to them."