VILLAGERS who won a battle to banish a huge reservoir near Abingdon are 'furious' that the plan has resurfaced.

Thames Water will once again investigate building long-contested Abingdon Reservoir, potentially on a scale as large as that rejected during a 2010 public inquiry.

The water provider has been eyeing up land between Steventon, East Hanney and Drayton since 1975 for a reserve, prompting years of backlash from campaigners including GARD (Group Against Reservoir Development).

GARD's secretary Lesley Lovell said she was 'furious and exasperated' that it was pursuing plans apparently similar to those already rejected by a Government department during the inquiry, which ruled that there was not enough justification to build.

She said: "The reservoir is such a danger to the village in so many ways. It will put millions of tonnes of weight on the land, which is already full of water.

"Another concern is the sheer size and the horrible building works. If the reservoir breached the whole village would disappear. They said it could be the largest freshwater lake in Europe, which would mean thousands of people coming every day. It would irrevocably change the village."

The report published at the end of September outlined three potential reservoir sites for further investigation: the preferred Abingdon site and smaller sites in Chinnor and Buckinghamshire.

They will be assessed among other measures including desalination and reuse plants, as part of Thames Water's attempts to meet water demand in London, Oxfordshire and Swindon.

Thames Water spokeswoman Sarah Sharpe said the long-term plan was in the 'early stages' and stressed that this was a 'fresh lot of work' separate from the past plan, which was for a £1bn reservoir built up from the ground and measuring 1,400 hectares.

Steventon Parish Council chairman Chris Wilding said his biggest concern was the disruption that would be caused by the construction'.

He added: "There will be consequences around the area. There are new houses and their back windows will look out onto a great mound of earth.

"After the initial disruption I can see it could bring people and revenue and new business to the area, but personally I don't believe you can justify the figures and that was proved right during the inquiry. There are lots of alternatives to this."

GARD chairman Derek Stork issued a statement to village newsletters calling for 'strong public support' against the plan, adding: "This is a battle to preserve our countryside and the next two years will be crucial if we are to succeed in resisting a massive reservoir looming above our villages."

The sites will be scrutinised ahead of a final report in 2019.