A controversial plan to reopen a countryside quarry has attracted protests from nearby residents who fear their tranquil way of life will be disrupted.

Residents packed a parish council meeting to show their opposition to the plans at Newton Poppleford Village Hall on Tuesday.

Aggregate Industries aims to resume quarrying at the sand and gravel quarry at Venn Ottery Hill, in what is an East Devon beauty spot alongside a nature reserve.

The company first received permission in 1965 and continued quarrying until the 1970s. Two weeks ago, campaigners belonging to the new Venn Ottery Action Group were shocked to learn that quarrying could restart, probably in the New Year.

They now plan to host a public meeting in Newton Poppleford to gather more support for their campaign against the quarry proposals.

Claire Stein said the route from the quarry to where the lane emerged on to the B3180 road from the Half Way Inn to West Hill, near Ottery St Mary, was unsuitable for heavy vehicles, but would be used by lorries every five minutes.

She also believed the quarry work and the noise it would generate would destroy wildlife and bird species.

"There is little that we can do about the permission granted to the quarry, which extends to 2042 – but we can oppose the traffic survey which is to be considered by the county council," she said.

Campaigner Anita Kemp said: "When permission was granted 45 years ago the environmental considerations were not what they are today. We believe there are so many flaws in the transport policy put forward."

She said the group hoped for support from conservation groups because the quarry was within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and provided habitat for endangered birds like the Dartford warbler and nightjar, as well as rare insects including glowworms, dragonflies, butterflies and adders.

Aggregate Industries is holding an exhibition on September 24 to highlight its plans, and a leaflet drop giving venue details is imminent. The county council will meet on October 15, to discuss the transport implications of the re-opening.