Devizes MP Claire Perry has taken up the cause of Pewsey Vale residents concerned about a new dairy unit at Sharcott Pennings Farm near the village.

An online petition has attracted more than 500 signatures and villagers are determined that the development will not go ahead in its current form, even though it has already been granted planning permission.

Pewsey resident Charmian Spickernell is spearheading the campaign. She said: “We hope we can make changes. We will certainly give it our best shot.”

The protesters’ main concern is a bio-digester plant, which creates biogas from waste including cow slurry, which is used to drive a generator to create electricity.

Residents are worried about the number of lorry visits to the plant each day along a narrow road and possible smell problems.

Mrs Spickernell added: “No one knew about the plant. We are also concerned about the number of cows that are going to be accommodated indoors in the new dairy unit.”

In a statement on behalf of the Rothschild family, which owns the farm, estate manager Gavin Davies said the intensive nature of the scheme and the bio-gas generator are necessary to make it a profitable concern.