CAMPAIGNERS have stepped up their fight to save what they believe is York's "forgotten battlefield" from developers.

The Lottery-funded Fulford Battlefield Society campaigners have handed in a petition signed by some of the country's leading archaeologists to planning chiefs.

The petition calls on planners to put on hold house-builder Persimmon's proposals to develop the site, with 750 houses and a road.

Archaeologists believe vital work is needed to find out whether the land at Germany Beck, at Fulford, is indeed the scene of a 1066 conflict between Vikings and Saxons, and fear that if the development goes ahead, an important historical battlefield may be lost forever.

If the plans are approved, they are likely to include conditions that Persimmon will undertake archaeological work on the site.

But society chairman Chas Jones is calling on the council to reject the development altogether, saying the required work is highly specialised.

He said work already done by the society on part of the site had uncovered sufficient evidence to make him sure the Battle of Fulford had taken place there. Persimmon say its archaeological digs on the land have uncovered no evidence of a battle, but their work has come in for some scathing criticisms from leading battlefield archaeologist Glenn Foard.

Mr Foard, project officer for the Battlefields Trust, says in a report: "In my experience of planning archaeology ... I find it difficult to recall a submission by an archaeological contractor ... which has failed so comprehensively to meet the necessary requirements."

But Peter Morris, development manager for Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: "The detailed archaeological study carried out at our proposed development in Fulford has been conducted in agreement with the City of York Council's archaeologist.

"Following excavation work, I can confirm that there is absolutely no evidence to support the claim that the Battle of Fulford took place at this site, and the council's archaeologist is satisfied that all evaluation works carried out on our behalf have been conducted in an extensive and proper way."

Mr Jones said he would be "absolutely devastated" if the homes development was given the go-ahead.

He said: "This is so important. Battlefields are the high drama of English history."

Updated: 11:24 Wednesday, February 16, 2005