Campaigners in Buckfastleigh determined to stop a dormant quarry being used as a recycling plant for incinerator ash have said legal action could become a weapon in their armoury.

Some 35 people attended a meeting of the Buckfastleigh Community Forum on Tuesday evening, their first chance to gather since Gilpin Demolition submitted its latest plans for Whitecleave Quarry.

The Heathfield firm wishes to use the site for the processing of waste from a proposed Plymouth power plant that would burn rubbish.

Three years ago it announced a scheme to recycle waste from the construction industry at Whitecleave but that was withdrawn following local opposition.

Resistance to the new project is equally strong and according to forum chairman Neil Smith on Wednesday, this week's meeting resulted in plenty of anger being expressed.

Residents believe Gilpin is breaking the rules by already preparing the site despite only having planning permission for quarry-related activities.

Both the firm and Devon County Council say there is no case to answer as the groundworks could help with future quarrying.

'Legal action is being discussed,' said Mr Smith.

'To be honest I don't want to go down that route, it could open a Pandora's box.

'There was a lot of anger expressed last night, people said we're just being mugged again and that Devon County Council is just trying to avoid the situation.

'I think we have won a moral victory, these people are exploiting a loophole in the planning system. They are not quarrying there, not doing what they're meant to.

'I completely understand why Devon County Council doesn't want to go there [take legal action], neither do I.

Do we really want to get stuck in a five year battle between lawyers that will just drain everyone?

'I'd rather move on but people are angry.'

Mr Smith said arguments about Gilpin's activities to date and the question of whether it should be given permission for the recycling plant were separate matters.

'We're still desperate to get the message out to people around the town that if they don't like what's going on then they need to be active,' he said.

A decision on planning permission is expected by the end of November.