residents of Welland and Castlemorton are mounting a campaign to stop the introduction of cattle grids and fencing on and around the Malvern Hills.

The Malvern Hills Conservators plan to introduce 18 grids with associated fencing to enable livestock to graze as a means of controlling the spread of scrub. They have already established their own flock of sheep under shepherd Richard Smith.

An information pack containing details of the scheme is being delivered to every house in the Welland area by residents who oppose the grids.

They are also calling for a public meeting and have gathered scores of names on a petition.

They say cattle grids and fencing will wreck views, cause a danger to horses, riders, cyclists and motorcyclists and the noise from vehicles crossing them will disturb nearby residents.

David Jones, who has put together the information pack, said the common was in no state to cope with the extra livestock as it had been neglected for decades.

He is writing to the Heritage Lottery Fund urging them to withdraw the £670,000 given to the Conservators for the project. Mr Jones also wants other people opposed to the scheme to do the same.

He said the Conservators had not raised public awareness of the plans or carried out sufficient public consultation.

The information pack also quotes from the British Standard for cattle grids, stating that hill sheep can often manage to get over them.

Mr Jones said: "When I started to object to this, I thought I was a lone voice, but I'm not. This should concern everyone who uses the common, not just people who live in Welland and Castlemorton."

The Malvern Hills Riding Club, backed by the British Horse Society, is also objecting to the scheme.

Ian Rowat, the Conservators' director, said: "There are lots of issues we will have to examine and we'll be consulting local people. If there is a lot of opposition, we will have to look again at it."