CAMPAIGNERS have launched a fighting fund to finance their battle against gravel extraction plans in the New Forest.

People living between Lymington and New Milton are furious at proposals to turn four farms near the A337 into giant gravel pits.

If the scheme goes ahead, the farms will be used as landfill sites once all the gravel has been removed.

Now a newly-formed pressure group is bidding to raise thousands of pounds to meet the cost of hiring lawyers to fight the plans.

Hordle and Everton Residents In Tandem Against Gravel Extraction (HERITAGE) says "immense" amounts of dust will blow across villages if the proposals are approved.

A HERITAGE spokesman said: "There's increasing concern about the health hazards from the dust from gravel extraction and landfill.

"One Hordle resident has a 12-year-old daughter who suffers from asthma.

"When they lived behind the New Milton gravel depot she used to get through five boxes of tissues a week. Now they've moved to Hordle she is down to one box a week."

The four sites under threat are Kings Farm, Batchley Farm, Yeatton Farm and Leagreen Farm.

HERITAGE was formed after the farms were identified in a new minerals and waste framework published by Hampshire County Council, which says the sites are worthy of "further investigation".

The spokesman said the impact on the local community would be "catastrophic".

He added: "When they've finished extracting the gravel they will fill the pits with rubbish. The tourist industry will surely suffer - and tourists are important to the local economy."

Details of the fighting fund have been posted on the HERITAGE website.

In a message to residents the group says: "If you value peace and tranquillity give us the necessary financial support to oppose the most serious threat to our environment so far."

New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne said: "You don't create the nation's newest National Park, then dig it up and fill it with rubbish."

A county council spokesman said many of the concerns expressed by residents were unfounded.

Anyone wanting more information about the HERITAGE campaign should log on to its website at www.heritage.org.uk.