Dame Helen Mirren has backed a last ditch campaign to block a controversial sewage plant in the Highland village where she got married.

The Oscar-winning actress told campaigners she was "appalled" when she learned about the proposed treatment works in the quiet fishing village.

And she is now poised to sign a petition against the development at Ardersier on the Moray Firth.

Read more: Dame Helen Mirren says the late Alan Rickman would have been 'proud' of his last movie

Dame Helen has a personal connection to the village after marrying her husband, Taylor Hackford at Ardersier Parish Church on New Year's Eve in 1997.

The petition was launched six days ago and has already amassed more than 1,000 signatures.

Scottish Water won permission for the £11 million development in 2011, but locals are staunchly opposed, fearing the smell will put tourists off visiting.

The Herald:

And a fresh campaign to block it was recently launched.

The project involves upgrading existing sewage works at Ardersier, replacing outflow from the plant to the Moray Firth and a new main sewer in the area east of Inverness.

Scottish Water says the work is essential to support plans to create a new town at Tornagrain, seven miles north-east of Inverness, and other developments stretching north from Inverness to Nairn.

But opponents claim there was not enough consultation, there will be heavy traffic in the village and protected species could be threatened.

Read more: Helen Mirren on Woman in Gold, and her fascinating Russian heritage

They also say the smell will put tourists off visiting and harm the quality of life of locals.

Campaigners contacted Dame Helen to recruit her to their cause.

Isla O'Reilly, one of the local residents behind the protest, said: "She responded pretty quickly to my e-mail, through her publicist, to say that she had read the message and was appalled and would sign the petition.

"She said that she was more than happy to be associated with the campaign and supports us fully."

The Herald:

In a statement, the campaign group said: "We do not believe that in order to allow a new town to be built at Tornagrain we should see our village being sacrificed."

Highland Labour MSP David Stewart has written to Scottish Water.

He said: "When permission is sought for developments like this it is important to ensure that the views of the whole community are taken into account.

"A number of residents clearly feel this has not been the case in this regard to this project."

Read more: Dame Helen Mirren considering 'whole sleeve' tattoo

A Scottish Water spokesman said there had been extensive consultation.

He said: "We are investing more than £11million in four essential improvement projects to upgrade the waste water infrastructure in the Ardersier and surrounding area.

"The significant investment, which includes the upgrading of the Ardersier waste water treatment works, will protect the environment of the Moray Firth while supporting the economy of the A96 corridor - helping to enable development at Tornagrain, which is now progressing.

"This is not a new proposal - these projects were proposed around six years ago when engagement with the community first took place.

"Planning permission for the upgraded waste water treatment works was granted in June 2011 and it is important to understand that this is on the site of our existing facility, which already takes flows from the existing Tornagrain village."

An information event about the plans is to take place this week after Scottish Water held discussions with the community council.

The spokesman added: "At their request, we have organised an information event to be timed with their next meeting so that they have the opportunity to discuss the projects immediately afterwards.

"We also met local councillors and have sent letters to households in the area to invite them to attend the information event.

"We look forward to taking this opportunity at the information event to allay concerns, answer questions and provide clarification on the issues that are being raised."

On December 31, 1997, Dame Helen married film director Taylor Hackford at Ardersier Parish Church, with the couple staying with friends at nearby Castle Stuart at the time.

The 70-year-old actress has won an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award - one of only 21 people to do so.

She starred in TV series Prime Suspect in the 1990s and has been in a number of Hollywood films including Calendar Girls and The Queen - for which she won an Oscar in 2007.

Campaigner Isla O'Reilly said Dame Helen Mirren's backing was a huge boost.

She said: "It's absolutely amazing. The residents of Ardnersier remember her fondly.

"They remember her being extremely warm and gracious. She invited the locals into the church.

"Everyone speaks so highly of her in the village.

"We're so delighted to get a response straight away."

Isla added that Dame Helen's publicist had told her the actress was happy to support their campaign, and had described the situation as "alarming".

And she believes the Oscar winner's support will make a big difference.

Isla said: "I think it will make a massive difference to the campaign. It's throwing the spotlight on what's been happening in the village and how devastating it could be."

Construction of the sewage plant has not yet begun, but pipes are being laid which are edging closer to the small Highland village.

The development is to be built on the beach at the far end of the village - a conservation area and also a draw for tourists.

Campaigners fear it could affect the habitat of two of the rarest butterflies in the UK which live in the area.

Isla said when planning permission was originally granted in 2010 only the community council was aware of the proposals - and it opposed them.

She added: "No big public consultation took place. Then nothing happened for such a long time. They're laying down pipes now and not telling us where they're going.

"The lack of consultation is one of our biggest gripes. It's also an area of ecological importance.

"It's really detrimental to the village. There's plenty of other options that have not been considered."

Traffic is a major concern for residents, with 24 LGVs and four HGVs expected in the area daily when work on the plant begins.

But Isla said they had already seen an increase in traffic, with several houses - some dating from the 18th and 19th centuries - shaking as vehicles rumbled past.

She added: "They need to stop and have a good long think about it."