MORE than 100 people were this evening demonstrating against the £150 million Silver Hill scheme in Winchester city centre.

The protesters gathered outside The Guildhall to demand that the city council forces the developer Henderson to include a bus station and 100 affordable homes as originally proposed.

Hendersons have dropped the homes because it says they would make the scheme unviable.

Protesters outside the meeting chanted "homes not shops!".

City councillor Kim Gottlieb has launched a campaign, called Winchester Deserves Better, to persuade the city council to amend the proposals.

Mr Gottlieb told the Daily Echo: "We have a 100 people with homes coming out to stand up for people without homes. They feel strongly about it. I'm just overwhelmed."

Shopkeeper Ali Galvin, owner of The Clothes Line, said: "I love Winchester and I don't want to see it become like any other high street. I want it to retain its specialness. To lose the bus station and have seven storey buildings would be a disaster."

Patrick Davies, a former city councillor, said: "Without the 100 affordable homes the scheme ought not to go ahead."

The demonstration was held just before a full council meeting that was due to discuss the local plan that includes Silver Hill.

A new planning application for Silver Hill has been submitted by Hendersons.