ANGRY campaigners fighting to stop huge housing developments in Goosnargh, Whittingham and Broughton joined forces at the weekend, to hold a protest in Preston's Flag Market.

The demonstration started in Goosnargh on Saturday, where more than 200 people gathered to watch six campaigners march the seven miles to Preston.

The marchers, who were joined by more protesters as they passed through Broughton, presented petitions against the controversial plans to Preston's Mayor, Councillor Geoff Swarbrick, and they will be forwarded to Environment Secretary John Prescott.

The residents' fight has stepped up a gear since a government inspector rejected councillors' objections to allocating farmland north of the borough for housing at a public inquiry into the Preston Local Plan.

Campaigners also slammed plans for the developers to fund the £7.9m Broughton bypass, which has now been reduced to a single lane carriageway.

It is scenes like the country lane in Goosnargh, pictured, which coulkd be lost forever if developers get their way.

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