Opponents say the plans threaten the 'Stonehenge of the North'

Heritage Action is trying to stop Tarmac Northern from quarrying close to the Thornborough Henges, ancient earthworks near Ripon.

An ancient axe will be carried along a 20 mile route from Catterick to Boroughbridge by protestors.

The group claims the Henges are under threat from the quarrying.

The area has the greatest concentration of late Neolithic and early Bronze Age sites in the UK.

It also boasts the country's largest quarrying operation on prehistoric land, Nosterfield Quarry, which produces more than 500,000 tonnes of sand and gravel each year.