PLANS to build hundreds of homes in exchange for a new sports centre and the widening of Butts Bridge will "ruin" Alton and Chawton, campaigners say.

Not only is it 'green belt' but the development would fill the gap between the town and Jane Austen's village.

And the intention would be to build a sports centre on the site of a gravel pit, on the same lavant course as nearby Farringdon.

The history of the underground watercourse is conjuring up fears of floods that saw 14 Farringdon families evacuated at Christmas in 2000 when that same lavant stream flooded their homes.

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