The group met on Saturday at the Forest Centre in Marston Moretaine where the Government was holding one of two roadshows on its controversial plans to build 15,000 new homes in a development called Marston Vale.

Last week the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) was
criticised for keeping quiet about the visit to Bedfordshire.

Parish councils were given only eight days' notice of the plans, while Mid Beds District Council had only four days, and local residents and the press were not informed at all.

Hugh Roberts, chairman of the Marston Moretaine Eco Town Action Group (MMETAG) which organised the protest, said: "The DCLG had sneaked in and would have sneaked out.

"But once again the voice of protest is heard loud and clear. If we hadn't shown up they would have said 'no objections' heard.

"They, who have sneaked in, won't have to live in this eco nightmare and the whole point of our campaign is we have no intention of doing so either."