MORE than 100 people marched this morning to protest plans which could put thousands of homes on popular countryside.

Residents trudged through ankle-deep mud on land near Bishopstoke which could be developed by Eastleigh Borough Council.

The council is considering building 3,700 homes between Bishopstoke and Fair Oak as it looks to provide more than 20,000 homes over the next two decades.

Eastleigh MP Mims Davies addressed crowds this morning and pledged to take the issue to the government.

She said: "I walked this route a couple of weeks ago with local residents and I think it's the most unsuitable site for housing.

"I'm extremely supportive of this and I have a question in the House of Commons this week about the lack of neighbourhood plans and the lack of local plans.

"We need housing but this is simply the wrong place."

The council says the scheme is one of eight options being considered and no decisions have been made.

Protesters brandishing placards were guided by architect and Don't Choke Bishopstoke campaigner David Lovegrove, who showed where a main road could be built through the site, as well as where a separate development has already started.

The three-mile ramble brought together three grassroots campaigns from nearby villages.

Caroline Dibden, Hampshire trustee of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, warned that the scheme would help turn rural towns and villages into an urban sprawl.

"It's another step towards Solent City," she said. "That's what everybody's concerned about."

A consultation ends at 5pm on February 17.