Precious views of Hampton Court Palace will be destroyed forever if permission is given for a hotel on the riverbank opposite, campaigners said, in what one leading historian has described as "an international scandal".

The campaigners oppose plans passed by Elmbridge council to develop the site in west London, which is directly across the Thames from the 16th Century palace, which was built for Cardinal Wolsey and once belonged to Henry VIII.

Permission was granted to build a multi-storey hotel up to 76ft (23m) high, a large underground car park, 61-bed care home and further housing but the council was accused of misleading its members over objections from heritage organisations....