Civic chiefs are furious about the latest move by clean air campaigners battling against Castle Cement's use of Cemfuel.

But the Bolton-by-Bowland mum who took the photograph has defended the move and said on the day it was taken pollution in the Ribble Valley was so bad that she had to keep her son off school.

Two thousand cards, with the message, "Clitheroe, Ribble Valley: It takes your breath away!" have been produced by the Air Watch group.

A spokesman said the card was the first of a series and there was more to come.

But Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has said the local tourism industry could suffer if people are put off visiting the area.

The photograph, taken by campaigner Mary Horner from a spot near her home, shows several chimneys discharging into the atmosphere.

It is being used as publicity by Air Watch to highlight its case against Castle Cement's use of the controversial fuel. She said the cards had been produced with cash from the pockets of Air Watch members and the proceeds of "rattling buckets."

"The pollution was so bad on a day at the beginning of December that I had to keep my son off school. I took the photograph as proof.

"We are not trying to ruin the Ribble Valley by producing the postcards, that has been done already.

"It is our lives that are being wrecked by the pollution and we want to highlight our case."

But Nigel Evans and council chiefs described the group's actions as "sad" and said the Ribble Valley was still "enormously beautiful."

"We know that the cement kilns are there and that they can be unsightly, but having said that the Ribble Valley is still an enormously beautiful place.

"It will be a great shame if this postcard puts anyone off coming to the area. Local businesses and tourism could be affected."

Ribble Valley Council chief executive Dave Morris said for every one of the postcards he could produce dozens of others showing the Ribble Valley as a beautiful place.

But he also called for more research into the burning of the controversial fuel.