WALKERS will visit historic sites including ancient henges that campaigners say are at risk from quarrying.

A ceremonial axe will be carried on a 20-mile route from Catterick to Boroughbridge, in North Yorkshire.

The walkers will pass Thornborough Henges, near Bedale, which protestors say will be damaged if further quarrying is allowed nearby.

Campaign group Heritage Action said the axe was brought from Scotland 5,000 years ago and was buried near Thornborough.

George Chaplin, of Heritage Action, said: "The area between Catterick and Boroughbridge can claim to be Britain's first great religious and ceremonial centre.

"It contains Britain's largest concentration of prehistoric henges - vast circular earthworks that were used as ceremonial meeting places.

"We are staging a march through this 'sacred vale' to highlight that the area is an immensely important part of our local and national heritage, and that plans to quarry the surrounding archaeology are akin to vandalism."

The walk will take place tomorrow and on Saturday, and local historians and archaeologists will join protestors.