A GREEN army descended on Winchester for the largest protest on its streets for more than a decade.

They waved placards, they cheered, they chanted, and they all came to hammer their point home to council bosses.

A video of the protest

The protesters want to save Barton Farm, a greenfield site east of Weeke and Harestock, from development.

Winchester City Council proposes to make it available for 2,000 homes in the long term, but many residents oppose the move.

To underline their opposition, they held a protest march through the historic city centre.

Rallying at the Westgate they marched down High Street, carrying green posters and balloons.

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About 600 people attended, and the line stretched for more than a quarter of a mile at its peak.

Finally they gathered outside the Guildhall in The Broadway while members of the Save Barton Farm Group, which organised the event, addressed the crowd.