WELCOME to Minstead. Please have your passports ready.' This could soon be greeting visitors and residents to the New Forest village if plans to declare independence against Europe succeed.

A new flag, national anthem and even athletes for the Olympics and the World Cup have all been suggested by villagers as part of a campaign to declare a Unilateral Declaration of Independence - UDI - to oppose the increase in air traffic over the New Forest.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo Southampton and Bournemouth airports are looking to increase flights to accommodate a major increase in passengers.

Plans from the National Air Traffic Control Services - NATS - to widen air corridors across the New Forest have been slammed by parish councils and organisations across the region.

Now parish leaders in Minstead are investigating whether they can use the village's ancient Royal Charter that grants it independence from the surrounding forest to put a stop to the flight plans.

"We are investigating it at the moment," said parish council chairman Bill Andrews, who is looking to have a Minstead flag made to raise awareness of the issue.