Campaigners against a controversial nuclear construction project will march today against what they call “the biggest crime scene of the year” in Cumbria’s picturesque Lakeland district.

One hundred boreholes are being drilled at the site known as Moorside in West Cumbria in preparation for the construction of three nuclear reactors.

Radiation Free Lakeland (Rafl) is campaigning against the project, describing the site as “a beautiful, historically fertile lowland area between the Lakeland mountains and the Irish Sea.”

Thousands have signed a petition against the project.

Rafl spokeswoman Marianne Birkby said: “The drilling of 100 boreholes up to 150m deep has begun in preparation for three proposed nuclear reactors to be built by the same people responsible for Fukushima.

“The consent for the drilling of the 100 boreholes has been achieved by lies, deception and the dumping of any semblance of democracy.”

Ms Birkby said developer Nugen claimed in its application that there are “no protected and priority species” at the site when there is a “huge diversity of wildlife including species on the protected list.”

She further alleged that Nugen claimed “there are no trees or hedgerows” when the site has “at least 12 miles of ancient hedgerows and trees,” and that there are no designated or important habitats — denying the existence of a site of special scientific interest.

She accused local planning chiefs of giving consent to the drilling “without any scrutiny or discussion.”

Rafl supporters will meet at the White Mare in Beckermet at noon on Wednesday December 31 to walk to the site.