Campaigners fighting plans to build an incinerator on the edge of King's Lynn staged a public protest on Saturday.

They waved placards to demonstrate their opposition to the scheme and released 10 balloons to symbolise toxins that they say could be released from the incinerator into the atmosphere.

One thousand postcards to the Queen, asking for her to express their concerns over the incinerator to the prime minister, were handed out.

The protest was held at the fountain at The Walks in King's Lynn on Saturday morning and early afternoon.

Organiser Joanne Russell said: 'We wanted to stage a small peaceful protest to express our opposition to the incinerator and to let people know how we feel.

'We only came up with the idea for it a couple of weeks ago, but it has gathered momentum and we've had about 80 people here.

'People have been driving past throughout the protest sounding their horns to show their support for us and that really shows the strength of feeling in the town about the incinerator.' She added: 'The balloons idea was to make a symbolic gesture and also to get children involved in the campaign. The whole campaign is about safeguarding our children's futures so we felt it important to get them involved.'

Norfolk County Council voted in March to award the incinerator contract to Anglo-American consortium Cory Wheelabrator.

This decision sparked anger as it followed a borough-wide poll by West Norfolk Council in which more than 65,000 people voted against the proposal.

Supporters believe the incinerator will help save council taxpayers more than �8m per year and boost recycling by 20pc, but critics are concerned about the health risks associated with incinerators and also believe that rising recycling rates could mean that Norfolk has to import waste from elsewhere to keep the plant running. There is also concern about the increased lorry movements around the incinerator site and the harmful emissions that would come from this.

Campaigners are planning to make representations to Norfolk County Council's scrutiny committee, which is due to discuss the issue tomorrow, and could refer the decision back to the full council.

West Norfolk Council opposes the incinerator and has put money aside for a legal challenge.

Mrs Russell said: 'People in King's Lynn don't want this incinerator and we are pleased that we have the support of the borough council.

'We plan to keep fighting this all if the way and to make sure that our voices are heard.'

adam.lazzari@archant.co.uk