VILLAGERS in Ropley are heaving a sigh of relief after a group of worried residents raised £225,000 to prevent an agricultural field in the heart of their community being turned into a traveller site.

A 29-strong consortium of neighbouring householders pooled their cash to buy back the land in Gascoigne Lane where two caravans and hard-standing had been installed without planning permission.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.