CAMPAIGNERS who are embroiled in a battle to protect an area of greenery from development are still fighting the cause.

A dog show will be held at Markham and Little Francis in Weymouth; the fifth time the show has been held on the threatened fields, where a community has been fighting for two decades to have the site registered as a Town Green to give it protected status.

Mary Larkin, of the Society for the Protection of Markham and Little Francis, said any money raised through the dog show would contribute to the campaign.

She said: “We need a sponsor to help towards the costs of setting the show up, which will allow us to put any money we can raise through the show towards legal costs.

“Our legal team are so incensed by what has gone on in the area that they are working for nothing, and they obviously feel we have a good chance of winning.”

The society suffered a setback in March when the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision to revoke the status of Town Green.

The move meant owners Betterment Properties could submit planning applications to build houses on the 46-acre site.

Campaigners are now waiting to hear if their application to the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, will be allowed.

While the legal team are working free of charge, there are costs involved in the battle, which could be as much as £9,000.

Mrs Larkin said: “We want to tell the public we are still fighting this.”

The dog show, to take place on July 29, will have pedigree classes, ‘fun’ classes and obedience trials.

There will also be dog parades, music, stalls and a performance by Weymouth Amateur Boxing Club.

Mrs Larkin said: “This event was a huge success last year, attracting around 1,000 people, and this year it’s going to be even bigger.

“People in this area are quite passionate about the green. There are very few areas of open space left in Weymouth where you can take dogs off the lead, and where there are foxes, badgers and deer.

“It is also a great place for children to go and have barbeques in the summer. It would be a great shame to lose it.”

To offer to sponsor the dog show, contact Mrs Larkin on 01305 775553 or alflarkin@btinternet.com