Villagers of all ages united in a mass march against two threats to their community.

About 500 people, from young children to pensioners, marched through Sellindge, near Ashford on Saturday to protest against both the effects of a proposed lorry park nearby Aldington and a proposed waste recycling plant in their parish.

The demonstrators, waving banners, and blowing whistles, marched a mile from Sellindge village hall to the Airport Cafe, which is just across the road from the planned plant.

The colour procession was led by a Range Rover towing a trailier with a drummer and his beating sound was mixed with the noise of blowing horns and whistles.

The range of generations was shown by elderly people on walking sticks mixing with young mums pushing babies in pushchairs and a trio of little girls chanting "Say no to sludge".

Protester Margaret Ludlow said: "The turnout for this protest has been brilliant. Everybody in the village has knitted together."

The protest was organised by the Sellindge and District Residents Association Action Group, firstly against the scheme by Country Style Recycling for a plant to convert organic waste.

Villagers say it would increase lorry movements on the already busy A20 and cause smells to waft into the village.

The demonstration was also against a planned 70-acre lorry part at nearby Aldington, which would be used for up to 3,000 lorries during Operation Stack. This scheme has already led to four protest meetings in the area over the last month.

Full story in this Thursday's Kentish Express