HUNDREDS of people are expected to march through a town centre before attending a protest concert against a mass foot-and-mouth burial site.

Residents campaigning for the closure of the Inkerman burial site at Tow Law, County Durham, will be joined by their counterparts from Widdrington, near Northumberland, along with members of the Green Party.

More than 300 people turned out to support the last demonstration through the town on May 26.

The new demonstration starts at the town's monument at 1pm on Sunday, followed by a concert at Tow Law Football Club, from 3.30pm.

Organiser Emma Nicol said: "We are hoping to have as many people, if not more, there than last time.

"We just want to make people aware of what is going on and get them to come and support us.''

Meanwhile, campaigners hope the site could close within days, if European commissioners decide it is dangerous.

North-East Euro MP Stephen Hughes has asked the Brussels' Environmental Commissioner Margot Wallstrom to investigate Inkerman's safety, and handed her a dossier outlining claims that European legislation covering groundwater pollution and environmental pollution have been breached.

Yesterday, Mr Hughes asked the commission to exercise its Precautionary Principal powers, a little-known right which allows the European Commission to shut down sites alleged to be dangerous, until they are proved otherwise.

Speaking from Strasbourg yesterday, Mr Hughes said: "If it is, the site could be closed within days. It should not be allowed to continue if any of the risks that have been pointed out to me are true."

l Foot-and-mouth stories and event information and cancellations, on www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/news/fmd/index.html"