THE Campaign to Protect Rural England has become the latest organisation to blast plans for a laser attraction at Southampton's civic centre.

The Hampshire branch has fired off a letter to the city council objecting to the proposed Southampton Laser Gateway on grounds of light pollution and inefficient use of resources.

The council is considering installing four 2.7mm green laser beams pointing north, south, east and west. They would be visible for 15 miles.

The group joins a long list of objectors including the New Forest District Council, the New Forest National Park, Friends of the Earth and astronomers.

The council cabinet will make a decision on the plan on February 5.

If it gets the go ahead, the lasers will be switched on in April.