In a case of life mirroring art, the rural setting of the novel Watership Down might be destined to become a housing development.

Sandleford in Berkshire is where Richard Adams set his 1972 story. West Berkshire Council now proposes to concrete the site over, erecting 2,000 new houses, in a move that almost exactly mimics events in the novel.

Aside from being important in itself as part of the rapidly disappearing English countryside, Sandleford's literary associations could attract visitors and bring income to the area.

While the Conservative-run council claims the greenfield site is their only option, local campaigners, including the author himself, say different. They point out that plenty of perfectly adequate brownfield - previously developed - sites exist in the area.

Tell West Berkshire Council not to destroy an important part of the English countryside for convenience and profit.