A DORSET-BASED rock star has joined the fight to halt the building of the Weymouth relief road.

Ian Gillan, who is lead singer of heavy metal legends Deep Purple, has thrown his support behind campaign group Bypass the Bypass.

The rocker, who lives in Lyme Regis, has urged people to get involved and oppose the £84 million project.

Environmental groups Transport 2000 and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) are fighting to get the scheme scrapped.

They asked the High Court for a judicial review into the granting of planning permission for the road, but the application was thrown out.

Now Mr Gillan has joined forces with campaigners.

He said: "As a Dorset resident I fully support the group Bypass the Bypass that stands in opposition to building the proposed Weymouth relief road.

"I urge you to read the points presented on the group's website, www.bypassthe bypass.org, and weigh them against the statements made by Dorset County Council.

"Dorset County Council needs to be fully tested with regards to the integrity of this programme. Time is very short,so if you feel inclined to be active' please contact the website and do whatever you can to help."

Deep Purple have achieved stardom with their anthem Smoke on the Water as well as such tracks as Highway Star, Speed King, Burn and Space Truckin', Guy Dickinson, one of the founders of Bypass the Bypass, said protesters would keep on fighting despite the High Court ruling.

"The bottom line is we've always wanted an independent inquiry of some sort," he said.

"We don't understand why we haven't had one.

Disappointed "We were very disappointed. No-one, the pro-roaders included if their case is that strong, should have anything to loseor worry about. We feel that such damage to the countryside has been planned with no alternatives adequately explored. The scheme needs further independent scrutiny."

A six-week public inquiry into compulsory purchase orders on the site has now been scheduled to start on November 6.

Dorset CPRE chairman Howard Thomas said priority funding has still not been given to the scheme by the Government.

Evidence He said: "There are still several hurdles Dorset County Council has to jump. We'll be doing our best to make sure they fall at one of them.

"Our priority now is to provide evidence for the compulsory purchase orders inquiry. We'll be taking full advantage of that opportunity.

"All we've ever wanted is a public inquiry to explore whether there is a need for the road."

But Mr Thomas said any direct action from anti-road campaigners was unlikely.

He added: "We just don't think it's effective. I've never known any such action stopping a scheme from going ahead."