SNOOKER-loving senior residents of a quiet Hampshire village are celebrating after saving their treasured clubhouse from demolition.

Widower Bill Foulkes and his pensioner friends were up in arms when told by Eastleigh planners that their new back-garden games room was out of keeping with its historic Bursledon surroundings.

But now a decision by local councillors to go against their experts' advice has delighted the gang and secured the future of the £18,000 timber hut.

The 26ft by 17ft lodge, by the side of Bill's 18th century listed home on the village's Station Road, had been at the centre of a dispute after he erected it at his own cost just over a year ago. For Bill, 59, a grandfather of six, the snooker room was more than just a hobby.

He said: "When I lost my wife, I thought what am I going to do now

"I've always been interested in snooker and building a snooker room was something I wanted to do for a long time.

"All my neighbours were fine about it and I wasn't upsetting anybody. If the councillors had refused it permission I would have gone all the way with the fight."

Since it was put up, the shed, with views over the Hamble, has become home to a handful of Bill's retired mates who gather once a week to pot a few balls.

Frank Sidgwick, 78, of Burridge, said: "Bill's been kind enough to let us play on the table. It's easy to get to here and it's good recreation for us all."

Riley Curtis, 70, from Hedge End, added: "We even do a public service. We have a view over the station car park so we can keep an eye on any theft or vandalism problems down there."

Councillor Bill Perry was one of four local area committee members who stood up for the gang against the officers' beliefs.

He said: "You can hardly see the shed."

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