EVERTON and Hordle people will be able to see for themselves some of the fields that could be dug for gravel and then landfilled.

Ken Aitken, a committee member of Heritage, the pressure group fighting gravel plans for the area, will lead a massed walk starting at 11am on Sunday, January 14, from the Everton Road junction of Sky End Lane along Muddy Lane to the A337.

If gravel extraction gets the go-ahead, fields either side of Muddy Lane could be excavated in the quest for sand and gravel with the resulting pit being used for landfill, possibly for London waste.

Mr Aitken said it was not a protest walk: "It's to show a little solidarity."

There was plenty of solidarity at the second meeting of Heritage (Hordle and Everton in Tandem Against Gravel Extraction).

More than 250 concerned people attended and heard warning about large clouds of dust that could blow over the two villages on prevailing south-westerly winds if gravel pits are allowed.

There were also worries that extra gravel lorries on the A337 could lead to more cars in Everton Road and Hordle Lane because drivers will use them as rat runs.

The guest speaker, New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne, said he was delighted to see such overwhelming support for Heritage. He pledged to raise awareness of the issues.

"Of course we need gravel extraction sites," he said.

"But they must be suitable for that purpose. In this unique part of Britain we are the custodians of the newest and smallest National Park in the country.

"Do they really imagine that they can build a moat around it, fill it with rubbish, overrun it with hundreds of lorries, and still maintain an area of outstanding natural beauty?"

Residents at the meeting contributed almost £500 to a fighting fund with more expected later.