Campaigners battling against hundreds of new homes on former green belt land in Menston are recruiting celebrities to help their cause.

Menston Action Group (MAG) is being followed on social networking website Twitter by big names such as the Kaiser Chiefs, former pupils of St Mary’s School, and star of Emmerdale and sitcom Dinnerladies, Duncan Preston, has pledged his support.

Mr Preston, who has a base in the village, was one of 100 people to attend a MAG meeting on Monday night. The campaigners aim to submit 1,000 letters of objection against Barratt Homes’ plans to build 174 houses on Derry Hill, which have been validated by Bradford Council.

Proposals for a further 125 properties at Bingley Road are expected to be submitted soon by developers Taylor Wimpey.

Both sites lie on former green belt land, re-designated for housing by a Government planning inspector in 2004, despite objections by Bradford Council.

MAG committee member Graham Booth said they already had 200 letters of objection and were offering support to any residents who needed help to write in.

He said: “There are no jobs in the Wharfe Valley so people will have to travel and that means an increase in congestion and our carbon footprint. Putting houses where there are no jobs is close to environmental vandalism.”

MAG has teamed up with Menston Community Association and the parish council to lead opposition and is in talks with Aireborough Civic Society about the impact of the plans.

This week, working parties have been asking passengers to fill in questionnaires about train services, which they believe are full to capacity. Members plan to deliver the 1,000 objection letters to City Hall in Bradford on Wednesday.

Mr Booth said: “We are not angered by Bradford Council. Bradford tried to reject these proposals. We want to give Bradford confidence that when they rejected the plans, they did it for the right reasons.”

A 30-minute update on the housing developments will be given at the village’s next Neighbourhood Forum at Kirklands Community Centre at 7.30pm on Wednesday.