Astrologers and astronomers are in dispute over a rare planetary line-up which some say could cause natural disasters on the scale of last year's earthquake in Turkey.

Astrologers say the alignment of the traditional seven planets in the earth sign of Taurus will cause a variety of effects - including dips in the stock market, and changes to weather patterns.

On May 3, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Sun and the Moon (counted as planets for astrological purposes) will be within 26 degrees of each other - the closest line-up they have had since the 1960s.

By May 5, Earth will have joined this line-up while Mars will have moved out of it - which astrologers say heralds an eventful couple of days, the effects of which could last for months.

Russell Parkinson, founder of York Astrology Group, said Taureans, like Prime Minister Tony Blair, and, if all goes to schedule, his unborn baby, will feel the effects most strongly.

He said: "It depends on the individual and when exactly they were born but there will be lots of positive and negative aspects within a short space of time.

"There may also be a reawakening of the effects of the eclipse because of stressful aspects between the various planets which mimic those of that time last year.

"It could also herald some kind of ecological revelation relating to how modern lifestyles are polluting the Earth, as Taurus is a sign which is very closely related to the Earth."

The York Astrology Group is marking the event by releasing balloons from Clifford's Tower at the moment of the New Moon on May 4, at 5.12 am.

But Martin Lunn, curator of astronomy at the Yorkshire Museum, is sceptical about the effects of the planetary activity. He said: "I'm sure astrologers up and down the country will be making all sorts of predictions but it last happened in 1962 so it's not that rare.

"It's a pure line of sight effect and there is absolutely no scientific importance attached to it. I'm sure people will be talking about disasters and calamities but I could predict that some time this year there will be a great disaster and there will be, because that is unfortunately the way the world works."

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