Stress over the proposed £400m Aberdeen by-pass is having a serious impact on the health of those affected by the proposed route, objectors claim.

One resident believes a mini-stroke she suffered was as a direct result of the anxiety.

Road Sense, the organisation co-ordinating opposition, has carried out the human-impact survey and the results will be revealed at a public meeting tomorrow.

The first stage of the survey involved more than 100 households close to the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

Dr Caroline Fraser and Ms Heather Wood, co-leaders of the Human Impact Team at Road Sense, said the results showed an overwhelmingly negative impact on health and wellbeing.

They said 70% of those interviewed indicated that the impact has been severe to extreme. Ms Wood, a health professional, said some of the statements made by people responding to the questionnaire showed clearly the depth of pain felt by the many hundreds affected by the proposed AWPR.

"Home is now where the AWPR will be and it dominates their lives," she said. "One person wrote, worry and stress has caused my blood pressure to rise considerably and as a consequence I have had a mini stroke'."

One couple who are anxious about being disrupted by the proposed by-pass are George and Mary Simpson, who will both celebrate their 87th birthday this year.

The couple, both in poor health, had been planning to spend their twilight years enjoying the peace of the farm they bought 50 years ago. For half-a-century they have enjoyed a spectacular view from their living room across to Clachnaben and the East Grampian mountains.

That dream was shattered when it was announced that the chosen route would passes within a few hundred yards of their home.

"We are both disabled and the stress has been terrible," said Mrs Simpson. "I can't describe the stress my husband has been under. We don't sleep and it has been awful."

Mr Simpson said: "I don't keep good health now, but this is the finish for me."

Shiona Baird, the Green Party MSP, will be a guest speaker at the public meeting at the Aberdeen International School in Milltimber at 2.30pm, with representatives from Aberdeen Campaign against Climate Change, Friends of the Earth and the Aberdeen Greenbelt Alliance.

Henry Irvine-Fortescue, a campaigner, said: "This is one of the last real chances people have to voice their opposition to the route."