Emmerdale spoilers: Tom Waterhouse scheme has major 'plot hole' — did you spot it?

The shady entrepreneur is planning to knock down Zak and Lisa Dingle's (Steve Halliwell and Jane Cox) house to make way for his new golf course.

His proposal has been heavily campaigned against, and in Friday's episode, the village gathered to protest against the farm being destroyed.

Emmerdale cast Sam Dingle (James Hooton) seemed to accidentally reveal the plot hole as he addressed his fellow neighbours.

He told them: "We’ve got barn owls and bat round here," which was largely ignored by those around him.

But the key piece of information would actually be enough to prevent the farm being torn down.

Fans took to social media to point out that the business can't destroy the farm if a protected species is living there.

One said: "If those buildings have bats in, then legally they can’t be touched. Or is Emmerdale gonna skip something as basic as that.”

Another added: "Emmerdale All the Dingles need to do is find some rare bats nesting in their barn. Can’t knock it down then."

It seems that the fans are indeed correct, according to the Bat Conservation Trust.

Their website states: "In Britain all bat species and their roosts are legally protected, by both domestic and international legislation."

It seems that some simple research would save the Dingle's house, but will it occur to them?

Emmerdale continues tomorrow at 7pm on ITV.