A CAMPAIGN to save the Eel House, in Alresford, believed to be one of Hampshire's rarest buildings, has begun in earnest.

The building on the River Arle, which dates from the early 19th century, was formerly used to trap young eels as they set out to breed, and is a prominent feature of the Arle Valley Trail, a new walk recently opened around the environs of the town.

Recently, however, part of the building collapsed, and a 500-yard stretch of the walk was closed by Hampshire County Council because the area was deemed unsafe.

The cost of stabilising the structure is put at nearly £9,000 and a special group to co-ordinate the fund-raising has been set up via the charitable Town Trust, and the Alresford Society, which did much of the work in creating the Arle Valley Trail, and has long wanted to see the historic building restored.

An emergency grant of £500 has already been received and the Alresford Society has found £750 and the pot of money already stands at nearly £3,000. But around £6,000 still has to be found.

David Goodman, secretary of the Alresford Society, said it was vital that the money was found as soon as possible.

"Otherwise, there will be no building left. This is probably one of the very last eel houses left in Hampshire and that propbably also means the entire south of England."

He said it was vital to the water ecology of the area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.