CAMDEN - Residents of a northeastern North Carolina county should step up efforts to counter a proposed Navy landing field, according to the county manager.

The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reported Monday that Camden County Manager Randell Woodruff suggested last week that local residents go door-to-door to explain opposition to the proposed outlying landing field.

The Navy is studying two sites in North Carolina and three in Virginia for a proposed field where carrier jets can practice landings.

Woodruff said the county already has a good start in opposing the project because it has hired a law firm and a public relations representative. He said those firms will help the county show effects of the field on the local economy, tax base and environment.

Woodruff said at a meeting that "we need to go door to door in the community and let people know our opposition."

He also urged residents to complain about jet activity by using the county Web site to notify officials. Woodruff said the complaints will be compiled and presented to the Navy.

"If we don't start complaining now, the Navy can say, 'Well, we've been flying over the area for months and nobody has complained about it,' " Woodruff said.