FRUSTRATED campaigners fighting major housing developments have had their protest placards swiped under the cover of darkness.

Villagers in Kirby Cross and Kirby le Soken launched the campaign after developers revealed huge housing plans on farmland behind Halstead Road.

One developer wants to create a new 270-home estate, while another has submitted an application for 75 houses.

Residents put bright orange placards in their front gardens to show their opposition to the plans.

But they woke on Tuesday to discover most of the placards had been ripped from the ground.

Residents’ association chairman Ray Enever said: “We got up and found our placards had all disappeared.

“All of the boards along Halstead Road had been taken, as well as Thorpe Road and all those in the lower village.

“Whoever did it left a couple of the smaller ones, but 90 per cent have been taken.”

Mr Enever added: “We don’t know who it was and all we can do is speculate.

“But it seems ridiculous. It’s all very cloak and dagger. We won’t let it affect us, though.

“We can’t let the developers win and we already have more signs on order to go back in the gardens.”