The protesters gathered at Everest Road Household Waste Recycling Centre in St Annes to launch their petition and inform visitors of the possible closure.

And campaigners say furious tip users flocked to sign the petition, which already has more than 100 signatures.

The closure proposals are part of a county-wide review of household waste recycling centres by Lancashire County Council, which claim the county has more tips compared to the population than any other area in the country.

Fears have been raised that fly-tipping could increase if the closure, labelled a "cost-cutting measure" by protesters, goes ahead.

St Annes councillor Howard Henshaw, said: "People were coming up to us and couldn't believe what we told them.

"They were keen to fight the closure and most of them were very upset. We've had people ringing us up and asking what it's all about.

"The plan to close it doesn't make any sense. You can see that from the amount of people who use the site and how well it runs."

And Coun Tony Ford, Mayor of St Annes, said the council should look at ways of boosting the site's income.

"Closing the site is a crazy move," he said. "The county council should be looking at ways of increasing income at the site rather than considering it for closure."

Several users of the tip told the group they would happily pay a £1 for every time they used it.

County Coun Bill Winlow, who sits on the sustainable development overview and scrutiny committee at County Hall which will make a decision in two weeks time, has now urged residents to contact their county councillor to make their feelings known.

Marcus Hudson, head of waste and minerals policy at County Hall, admitted the closure was a possibility.