PLANS for the massive new town project went up in smoke on Saturday as organisers of the annual Wilburton firework display put a rocket up the project. Their display, on the theme of the popular TV show Dad s Army, included an illuminated Mereham sign

PLANS for the massive new town project "went up in smoke" on Saturday as organisers of the annual Wilburton firework display put a rocket up the project.

Their display, on the theme of the popular TV show Dad's Army, included an illuminated Mereham sign shot at by a cannon outlined in fireworks.

Hundreds of onlookers cheered at the fiery display of opposition to the plan to bring 5,000 new homes to the countryside between Wilburton and Stretham.

Wilburton district councillor, Bill Hunt, said: "I was really pleased to see they had summed up the Battle of Britain spirit of the local community with this tongue in cheek show of Mereham being destroyed by fire from a cannon.

"This was excellent light relief in what is a serious fight to preserve our way of life and ensure our local villages are not swallowed up by this new town."

Haddenham villagers also took a lighter look at the campaign on Tuesday when they staged a demonstration outside the planning inquiry with a life-size plastic cow.

They were protesting about the plans to graze cattle on land at Mereham at a time when the village has just recorded it first case of the disease Blue Tongue.

Campaigners have been attending the inquiry at Haddenham's Arkenstall Centre on a daily basis to lodge their opposition with the Government inspector who will decide on the fate of the massive project.

But they are furious because a constantly changing timetable has caused major confusion and resulted in problems for expert witnesses.

Haddenham Say No to Mereham campaigner, Barbara Grafton, said: "This has been prejudicial to our case. We have expert witnesses, with high powered jobs and international reputations, who live or have lived locally and they can't just take time off."

Freelance marketing consultant, Barbara, claims she has lost money taking days off work to support the campaign.

She turned down a day's work for tomorrow (Friday), because Multiplex's managing director, Andy Macdonald, was due to appear at the inquiry. But a change to the programme means he is now expected to address the inspector today (Thursday) and Barbara has lost £300 in potential earnings.

A Multiplex spokesman said: "The reality of all public inquiries is that programmes alter. Whilst we regret any inconvenience to members of the public we think it is important that all the evidence is presented."

n Signatures on a petition against the Mereham development have topped 5,500 after 800 were added at Ely Market Place on Saturday.