Protest: Paul Gustafson

TWO Oxfordshire authors have thrown their weight behind the Save Radley Lakes campaign.

Colin Dexter, creator of Inspector Morse, and Paul Gustafson, author of children's book Eggbert's Adventures, have lent their support to the campaign to stop RWE npower dumping ash in Thrupp Lake in Radley, near Abingdon.

Mr Dexter said he was dismayed by the company's plans to drain the lake and fill it with flyash from the nearby Didcot Power Station, calling it a "wanton disrespect for nature".

He added: "I hope good sense prevails and that npower's plans to destroy Thrupp Lake come to a dishonourable end."

Mr Gustafson, who lives in Abingdon and regularly visits the lake, said he was equally determined to do his bit to help protect it. He said: "RWE npower should shelve all plans to fill in Thrupp Lake. The lake is a place of particular beauty and we must do what we can to save it."

Marjorie White, of the Save Radley Lakes group, said she was heartened by the support of the two authors.

The power company said it could not recycle and sell all the ash from Didcot and needed the lake, which it described as a "reliable disposal facility", 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Link to website http://www.saveradleylakes.org.uk