A CAMPAIGNER who successfully fought against plans for a massive dairy has issued a rallying cry to those battling against proposals for a giant pig farm in Derbyshire.

Linda Wardale spoke last night at a public meeting organised by protesters against the plans by Midland Pig Producers to build a farm at Foston.

She was part of a campaign group called Vegan Lincs, which fought an application from Nocton Dairies for a 3,770-cow farm in Lincolnshire. Those proposals were dropped in March and the firm says on its website that it has no plans to submit another application.

Midland Pig Producers has applied to Derbyshire County Council for permission to build its farm, which could house up to 25,000 animals.

Mrs Wardale advised campaigners against the development to try to make the Foston farm issue national and international news.

And she said they should pay attention to county council documents when they make objections, pointing to the authority's plan for 2010-14 which states that it wants "all people in Derbyshire to think that their area is a good place to live and work". Some people in the area feel the Foston development goes against this statement.

Mrs Wardale was addressing about 60 people at Burton Town Hall, including interested councillors and residents as well people from the Foston and Scropton area, and others who are already protesting.

One person in attendance was Jim Davies, of Scropton and Foston Community Group, who said he feared the 28-hectare site would create noise, flooding, light, and traffic problems on the A50.

He said: "We are talking about an immense site. I don't believe it can run silently."

He added that there had been four large floods in the area since 1957 and that he feared laying concrete over such a big area would use up "valuable soaking ground".

The meeting was organised by the Soil Association, a campaign group for organic farming.

It claims the incidence of diseases increase when large numbers of pigs are kept indoors together.

But a Midland Pig Producers spokeswoman said the "number of animals on site at any time has no bearing on disease, which is controlled by hygiene, welfare and good management".

She added that its commitment to animal welfare had been "recognised by credible organisations, including Compassion in World Farming".

The firm's website says the development is outside the local flood plain and that "all aspects of the operation will comply with environmental regulations, including light and noise pollution".