It was standing room only in Sellindge village hall as villagers turned out in force to protest at a proposed recycling plant.

They quizzed developers and Kent County Council planners about the plans for the former Otterpool Quarry site on the A20.

If the private developer gets the go-ahead, almost 200 trucks a day will bring in rubbish from across east Kent for recycling.

One part of the operation would process paper, metals and plastics and an "anaerobic digester" would turn food and garden waste into compost and gas, which would be sold back to the national grid.

Villagers are outraged by the thought of the noise, smells and traffic that almost 100,000 tonnes of rubbish coming into the small village would create.

A group of protesters held banners saying “KCC killing our countryside and communities” while council officials and developers visited the site.

About 250 people then crowded into the village hall and heckled the panel which was made up of the consultancy firm representing the developer and council planners.

Ronald Lello, chairman of the residents' association, started the debate.

He said: “I don’t want any harm to come to the panel here tonight, I only wish they thought the same about us as they plan to poison our water, poison the air and poison and cause havoc on our roads.”

Concerns about the affect on nearby Port Lympne, Westernhanger Castle and Folkestone Racecourse were all raised.

Patrick and Julie Breen run the Airport Café on the A20, which is directly opposite the site.

Mrs Breen said: “This would mean the closure of my business which has been in my family for over 50 years.”

For full story see this week's Kentish Express, out on Thursday.