Campaigners against plans to build a £360m renewable energy plant in Leith are taking to the streets of Edinburgh this weekend to urge the government to reject the proposals.

Forth Energy claims the new biomass facility will create jobs and provide renewable heat and energy for homes and industry across Scotland in the years ahead.

But some Leith residents fear the effect the plant will have on the local area.

Hundreds of locals have now signed a petition, worried about the scale of the plant, air pollution and the impact it will have on its surroundings.

A Facebook page – Leith against the Biomass Plant Campaign – has also been set up, and has over 550 followers.

The proposed plant will take up an area of land equivalent to 17 football pitches, while its chimney stack will be 120m high.

Forth Energy says the plant will have to meet strict international standards on emissions and they will be doing all they can to help it blend into the local environment. The company also says that the plant will create between 500 and 700 jobs during its construction and a further 60 once it is up and running.

However campaigners against the plan remain to be convinced.

The final decision on whether this multi-million pound plant goes ahead rests with the Scottish government. A decision is expected to be made soon after the consultation period ends in March.