CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop the development of land they say should be turned into a nature reserve have set up camp on the site.

Their protest yesterday turned into a sit-in after they successfully stopped bulldozers from Persimmon Homes moving on to the site.

The protesters arrived on the site off Knotts Lane, Colne, after developers began work on fields despite an ongoing inquiry yet to decide what the land should be used for.

However, the company said they were just 'tidying up' the land.

Residents, councillors and campaigners have been protesting at the site - vowing to lie down in front of the bulldozers if necessary - to save wildlife.

Get Knotted campaign group member Kevin Singleton said: "We are horrified they can come along and destroy land and habitat. There are common blue butterflies which lay their eggs this year for next year and they've just smashed the area up. They should have got in contact with Lancashire Wildlife Trust. It's wanton vandalism."

A public inquiry into the council's decision to allocate land for housing is still ongoing, and will determine whether Knotts Lane should become a nature reserve.

Waterside councillor Tony Greaves claimed the developers began to tear up the fields to change it into brownfield land before an inspector can visit, after evidence to regard it as greenfield was given to the inquiry.

He said: "This was a reaction to what was said in the inquiry, which is spiteful and vindictive. It shows that they do not give two hoots about the area as all they are concerned with is making millions of pounds in profits.

"They're sticking two fingers up at the local community and the local council by trying to pre-empt the inquiry."

Coun Ian Robinson said: "Everyone is up in arms about it. We will show them that they can't destroy the Planet Earth and get away with it. It is an ecologically important site and they have just decided to destroy the ecology.

"They own the site. They are not acting illegally but immorally, unethically and unscrupulously. They are sacrificing the environment for profit."

Brian Jackson, from Friends of the Earth Pendle, said: "As any building or development on the site is unlikely to begin in the next 14 years of more, their actions are not only completely unnecessary but clearly an attempt to destroy biological evidence and obstruct the process of the ongoing public enquiry.

"Not unnaturally local people are incensed by this and as the council are seemingly unable to take action, they have decided to take direct action themselves to do what they can to prevent further damage to the site by Persimmon Homes."

Stephen Lancaster, land director, Persimmon Homes Lancashire, said: "While the land is owned by Persimmon Homes, we know that members of the public are currently using it to walk their dogs and therefore as a responsible company we have a duty to keep the land in a safe condition. We are merely 'tidying up' parts of the site and that is what residents are seeing at the moment."

Councillors have previously turned down an application from Beazer Homes for 101 houses off Knotts Lane. And John Prescott ruled against a 198-home development there.

But Coun Greaves previously warned that firms were likely to come back "again and again" with plans for the site if it is not removed from the list of possible housing sites.

The inquiry is expected to last until mid-November.