IT was started by a couple of people in a quiet Dorset town.

But now the No2PurpleHaze campaign against gravel and mineral extraction plans near Verwood has gone global.

In the last week alone, the group’s website has had more than 2,500 individual hits from people across Europe, America, Asia and Australia.

Earlier this week, Sarah Sumner and other No2PurpleHaze supporters were back up at the Moors Valley site, where Hampshire County Council proposes extracting 250,000 tonnes a year from a 700,000 square metre area.

After carefully tying purple, yellow and green ribbons to trees along the B3081 to remind drivers of the area affected, they discovered that those running along Pine Tree Avenue had been removed.

Sarah said: “We don’t know who’s been taking them down or why, or what the purpose would be. They just vanished.

“We’re just making a statement in a nice way, so people are aware of what could happen and can have their say.

“We’ll be tying the ribbons a bit higher this time.”

By August, the group aims to have inspired 3,000 people to write letters objecting to the Hampshire Waste and Mineral Plan proposals, which include extending landfill at Blue Haze, east of the B3081.

More than 500 people have registered as full members of No2PurpleHaze.

“Things are going brilliantly,” Sarah added. “Verwood has rallied together on this one.”