Environmental campaigners wearing gas masks will protest against plans for a controversial incinerator outside County Hall today.

Activists from Shepshed Against the Incinerator Group, Ellistown and Battlefleet Action Group and Leicester Friends of the Earth will demonstrate from 1pm.

They will attempt to lobby Leicestershire County Council's cabinet members as they arrive for their regular monthly meeting.

They will ask them to support their campaign against Biffa's plans for rubbish-burning plant at the old Newhurst Quarry, between Loughborough and Shepshed.

A decision will be made next month at the county council's planning meeting.

But today's demonstration is designed to show the level of anger at proposals for the 325ft (99m) plant, which will burn 300,000 tonnes of waste each year.

Leicester Friends of the Earth spokesman Malcolm Hunter said: "The incinerator industry is long established and has a lot of lobbying power as a result, but incinerating waste is old-fashioned, dirty and wasteful.

"Better and more modern alternatives exist and we urge the county council to think again and reject incineration as an option for dealing with Leicestershire's waste".

The local branch wants mechanical and biological treatments to be looked at instead.

Loughborough county councillor Max Hunt said: "There's a real strength of feeling from people in the area and this protest is a chance to show the level of opposition to these plans."

A decision was to have been made on June 4 but was delayed after concerns were raised about the impact it could have on the area, including the medieval former deer park on the Garendon estate.

A meeting at the end of July will finally decide the application.

One cabinet member, who did not wish to be named, said: "This isn't the way to lobby politicians. Arguing your case effectively is the way to change people's minds, not turning up with gas masks outside an unrelated council meeting."

More than 1,000 people have objected to the scheme but Biffa defended it, saying it would generate renewable energy capable of powering 42,000 homes each year.