CAMPAIGNERS against more quarrying around an ancient monument in North Yorkshire were making a special delivery to county hall this morning.

Members of Heritage Action were taking to the county council about 1,000 letters of objection to plans to extend quarrying near Thornborough Henges.

The letters were timed to meet the first deadline for comment on a scheme by Tarmac to extend at Ladybridge Farm, north of the existing Nosterfield quarry near West Tanfield.

And the bumper bundle is largely the result of a village-by-village tour by action group members aimed at raising the profile of the protest.

George Chaplin, campaign co-ordinator for Heritage Action, said: "We feel it is important to show the county council just how strong public opinion is. We have been touring villages with a pre-formatted letter kit which allows people to write an individual letter of objection in an easy way.

"The henges are the oldest, largest and most important ancient monument in North Yorkshire. It is a very important site which has been subject to quarrying for 30 years or so.

"We have been campaigning to get this stopped because it seems it has been destroying a lot of ancient monuments linked to the henges, such as settlements of people visiting the site.

"Tarmac has applied to extend the quarrying and we want people to write in opposing this."

He said the council would accept objections up to September 30.

Mr Chaplin said that in Well there was a 100pc response in favour of the campaign. In Masham 98pc expressed support and 70pc in Thornton Watlass, which is on the fringe of the area concerned.

By midweek, campaigners had collected more than 350 letters and at least 150 had been sent directly to county hall with about 1,000 objections in all due to arrive at Northallerton 11am today.

"The response has been fantastic," said Mr Chaplin.

North Yorkshire County Council is set to consider the Tarmac application in October.

"The sheer volume of objections is not the only factor the council will take into account, but it is vital councillors know that a large proportion of people in Yorkshire are against this," said Mr Chaplin.

"Thornborough Henges has been woefully under-recognised as a site of importance and we aim to move forward with a national campaign to build awareness.

"Our work will be going on all summer. We have meetings set up all over the place to spotlight the issue.

"This is the most important monument between Stonehenge and the Orkneys and we expect this to be a long campaign. This is just an initial show of concern. We think the scheme will be changed and re-submitted and we want to get so big that they have to give up."

The county council says Tarmac's application to extend sand and gravel workings is valid and meets necessary regulations. The authority is waiting for further archaeological information which forms part of an environmental report to accompany the application.

It is thought the henges may have been the most important sacred site in Britain 5,000 years ago and English Heritage has backed the protest campaign.

Tarmac Northern owns Thornborough Moor and two of the Neolithic henges, which are older than Stonehenge.

Mr Chaplin says his action group is looking for suitable venues and events at which to place a touring unit over the summer. Anyone who can help should contact him on 01677 450071