PROTESTERS braved wet and windy weather in a bid to ensure their objections to a mine proposal were heard.

Members of Lancashire County Council's development control committee were visiting Todmorden Road, Sharneyford, Bacup, to see the route which the lorries will take if the mine plan for Thieveley Pike goes ahead.

The mine will straddle the moor between Bacup, Burnley and Todmorden above Weir village and it is proposed the lorries exit and enter the site by a moorland road connecting with Todmorden Road and from there down through Cloughfoot and into Todmorden.

Cloughfoot resident Tony Berry said: "They are talking about having a full lorry leave the site every ten to 15 minutes, and these are big dumper lorries with up to 20 tonnes travelling at 60mph down through our village.

" A lot of children have to cross that road to get the bus and people walk across with their dogs. There is only a narrow footpath."

Many of the protesters said their vehicles had been damaged by traffic using the road and were concerned about the problems of people trying to pass the lorries on the road which is very narrow in parts.

Mr Berry said: "Our standard of living will drop by 50 per cent and we will have problems with noise and fumes."

John Abbott, also a resident of the village, said: "There will be deaths on that road if this goes ahead. This coal mining application is a front, once the mining is finished to will become a landfill site -- that's what is going to make the money."

Paul and Nicola Loftus, from Cloughfoot, attended along with their youngest child 15-month-old Eliza. They are concerned because their older daughter Lucy, 14, has to cross the road to get the bus to go to Todmorden High School and their son Connor, eight, crosses the road to see the animals.

Paul said: "When they resurfaced the road they put up signs saying 10mph, but they were still coming down here at speeds of 80mph."

Cliviger Parish Council representative Tony Harrison was also present along with other residents from Cliviger.

The application, made by Yorkshire firm Cobex, has prompted objections from many people., including Burnley MP Peter Pike, and many environmental groups. A decision should be made on November 7.