Home-owners in Glenavy have called for a public enquiry about the biomass station, which they say will pump poison into the air and put their children at risk.

Rose Energy has claimed burning agricultural waste at the planned £100 million plant will help Northern Ireland meet its renewable energy obligations.

The protestors were flanked by Lagan Valley MLAs Basil McCrea and Paul Butler as they donned T-shirts which spelled out ‘No incinerator’.

Fellow supporters and residents’ children wore tops with the slogans, ‘Rose Energy stinks of pollution’, and ‘Public money for public services – not pollution’.

Roy Clarke, who heads Communities Against Lough Neagh Incinerator, said: “This power station has been billed as some kind of green initiative, but it is nothing but an incinerator that will produce toxins, lorries delivering waste every 10 minutes and more dirt than a regular coal-fired power station.

“The ash produced by the planned 106-metre chimney can travel for miles, which can cause cancers and low birth weights.

“The plant will also be sited on the major drinking water supply for Northern Ireland and will ultimately put the fate of my children and my children’s children at risk.”

Other residents’ groups in the Glenavy area have warned the development could cause problems with smells and traffic.

Mr McCrea, of the UUP, added: “We know we need a plant to remove chicken waste, but we must ask ourselves if this is really the right area for it. There needs to be a public enquiry and a proper decision made.”

The delegation took their concerns to a debate with Environment Minister Arlene Foster last night, where they pleaded for the plan to be halted.

Major agri-food players Moy Park, O’Kane Poultry and Glenfarm Holdings joined forces to create Rose Energy so they can turn the agri-waste into electricity.