PROTESTERS fighting a scheme to transform the Drakelow Tunnels into a training centre have handed a petition with more than 600 signatures supporting their cause to Wyre Forest District Council.

A planning application to use one of the tunnel entrances to accommodate a maximum of 30 people has sparked outrage among villagers in Wolverley and Cookley.

Birmingham-based charity, Jericho Community Project, which helps ex-offenders, homeless people, former drug addicts and the disabled back into employment, has submitted the proposals.

Worried residents have set up the Drakelow Preservation Trust - DPT - to fight the plans and hope, eventually, to buy the landmark to use as a heritage site.

They claim the application is the first phase of a plan to extend the initiative to the rest of the complex but Jericho has denied this.

Mick Freer, a member of the campaign group, said: "The opposition to the scheme is absolutely amazing and solid. The communities are definitely against this.

"We believe there have been almost 700 letters of objection sent to the council, which, I should think, is unprecedented."

Mr Freer added representatives from DPT had agreed to meet people from the charity later this week to discuss the situation.

Richard Beard, Jericho's spokesman, said: "I expect this will be the first of a number of meetings between us because we do not expect to solve all of the problems now but it is a positive step.

"I am aware of the level of opposition to the project.

"I think some of that has come from a misunderstanding and mistrust but I can assure everyone our intentions for the site are genuine and honourable," Mr Beard told the Shuttle/Times & News.

A public meeting about the issue is being held tonight at 7pm at the Kingsford Club, in Sladd Lane, Wolverley.