Labour MP for Northampton North Sally Keeble also gave her support to the campaign against the planning application on Buckton Fields submitted by Surrey-based development firm, Ensign.

Mrs Keeble said: "It's not in anyone's interest for the developer to proceed with this scheme and it would cause major problems for the people living here. There's also a sense that Daventry has dumped this on Northampton and I think it would be important for Daventry councillors to listen very carefully to what people are saying."

The public meeting was organised by the Whitehills and Spring Park Residents' Association (WASPRA) after a petition of 500 signatures registered the community's opposition.

Among the main concerns were the level of traffic, the lack of a secondary school within the plans and flood risks.

Patrick Cross, a spokesman for WASPRA, said: "The message is that Northampton as a town is not big enough for this application. A lot of people are saying it is going to happen anyway but we're saying we've got to fight it. There will be meetings in the future where we will present our objections and we've got a meeting with Ensign at which we will make our comments."

Residents from surrounding villages, Brixworth and Pitsford also attended to see presentations by WASPRA and Northants Residents' Alliance, which included a video of a typical car journey through Kingsthorpe showing the already congested roads in the area.

The planning application will be considered by Daventry District Council and proposals have already been cut back from 1,500 houses and now include saving Smith's Farm Shop, which has traded on the site for almost 50 years.

The plans are available online at www.bucktonfields.co.uk.

donna.bowater@northantsnews.co.uk