VILLAGERS in a tiny parish in North Dorset are battling new plans for continued use of a gypsy site to house travellers visiting the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

People living in Tarrant Monkton and Launceston were told last year by County Hall planning chiefs that applications for alternative sites would be welcomed this year.

Now a new planning application from Dorset County Council (DCC) for use of the same field on the eastern side of the C25 road, south of Hyde Hill, has been slammed by civic leaders. Alternative sites will go before the planning committee on May 1.