Members of Save the Area North of Dorchester (STAND) are opposing plans to build thousands of homes in the Stinsford parish with a march through the town tomorrow (Saturday).

The group is campaigning against around 4,000 homes being built in the north of the town between Charminster and Stinsford, which has been included in the draft Dorset Council Local Plan.

It states the houses will "blight the environment and change the character of the county town for good".

Jane Ashdown, chairman of the group, said: "These fields are the green lungs of Dorchester. The landscape is of huge historical and cultural significance.

"Dorset Council needs to halt work on its local plan until the Government comes up with a new housing strategy."

To draw attention to the plans, STAND is inviting the public to meet at Maumbury Rings at 10am on Saturday, April 2 and march through the town centre.

Jane added: "All are welcome. Anyone who cares about the environment and the future of Stinsford and Charminster should think seriously about making their voices heard."

There will be music and speeches and members will be recreating one of Thomas hardy's most memorable scenes - the Skimmity Ride from The Mayor of Casterbridge.

Sometimes referred to as a Skimmington Ride, the rural tradition was intended to heal shame on adulterers or other miscreants. Models of the offending couple would be strapped to a donkey and paraded through the village.

When protestors march through the town centre they will recreate the ride.

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