NEW Forest West MP Desmond Swayne has pledged his support to an organisation fighting gravel extraction plans in and around the New Forest villages of Everton and Hordle.

Heritage - Hordle and Everton Residents in Tandem Against Gravel Extraction - is protesting about the inclusion of 211 hectares of fields at five farms adjoining the villages in Hampshire County Council's list of sites "worthy of further consideration".

Mr Swayne said: "You don't create the nation's newest National Park then dig it up and fill it with rubbish.

"Apart from the environmental considerations the roads are completely unsuited to the sort of lorry movements that will be generated if you have gravel extraction and then land fill in this very sensitive area."

Giving permission at Hordle and Everton would be the thin end of the wedge and open up the possibility of other pits in an area rich in sand and gravel, he said.

"We've been turning down, time in and time out, that New Milton Sand and Ballast application at Downton Manor Farm and, on the same grounds, this one should be turned down."

And he said that although gravel pits on the edge of Pennington Marshes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, had been allowed in days gone by, "times have changed".

At the inaugural meeting of Heritage earlier this month concerned people crammed into Hordle Parish Hall eager to learn how to fight the proposals.

A large number of other residents had to be turned away from the meeting.

Now Heritage has booked the much larger New Milton Memorial Hall, off Whitefield Road, for its next meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday, November 30.

Committee members say they have new information and urged everyone to attend to hear "what actions are planned to ensure that Hampshire County Council are aware of the strength of feeling".