HUNDREDS of campaigners are lining up to fight plans for a vast gravel extraction operation in the New Forest, the Daily Echo can reveal.

More than 500 protesters have written to council chiefs urging them to abandon plans for the new quarry in Milford on Sea. Downton and Milford Against Gravel Extraction revealed the extent of local objections to the scheme at a meeting in the Red Lion pub.

The campaign group has said the proposals to extract 810,000 tonnes of sand and gravel at the 17-hectare site at Downton Manor Farm in Christchurch Road, Downton, would damage the environment and the area's tourist trade.

Members say the six-year scheme would result in noise and dust, plus extra HGVs on the busy A337 Lymington to New Milton road.

And they fear giving one project the green light would open the floodgates to applications from several other quarrying firms which have options on neighbouring sites.

Richard Poole, vice-chairman of Damage, said the campaign group had employed a mineral planning consultant to fight its battle against applicant New Milton Sand and Ballast.

Fellow committee member Keith Phillips said he was concerned that toxins produced by the quarrying process could find their way into the river running through the village. He said: "If the toxins are not properly contained they will endanger the lives of children and tourists who swim and play in the river."

New Forest District Council and Milford Parish Council have both registered objections with Hampshire County Council, the authority which will decide on the application.

Chiefs at New Milton Sand and Ballast have indicated they are "disappointed" that the councils decided to raise an objection to the scheme. A spokesman said: "We have won national awards for our environmental work and have a committed programme for the regeneration of flora and fauna."

Hampshire County Council is expected to make a decision on the planning application early next year.