VILLAGERS have vowed to fight a swathe of developments planned for a rural Hampshire community.

Neighbours in the Netley Abbey and surrounding villages fear they are “sitting ducks” at risk of being swamped by hundreds of homes earmarked for their area.

More than 450 people from the village and neighbouring Hound, Hamble and Bursledon gathered for a public meeting at Netley Abbey Sports and Social Club.

The area is subject to nine planned developments - including a combined 820 homes at separate sites at Hamble Station, Berry Farm and Mallards Road off Hamble Lane, and Ridge Farm in Netley, which have either gone to appeal or are due to be determined by Eastleigh Borough Council.

Meeting organiser Kim Sandon urged residents to appeal the developments and warned the lack of an Eastleigh Local Plan makes them vulnerable to more applications.

The plan which is a blueprint for future housing in the borough, has been thrown into doubt and looks set to be delayed.

Mr Sandon told the meeting the new homes will put pressure on local schools and doctors surgeries, increase the risk of flooding and add 6,000 additional cars a day to the M27 junction eight.

He warned the villages are “sitting ducks” for development and that the Hamble peninsula is under threat of gridlock, adding: “We are under threat and it feels like there is an invasion.”

A Hamble resident told the meeting that Hamble Lane is already so badly congested emergency services struggle to get through and added: “More houses and narrow roads mean you can't get in or out.”

Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton also urged residents to appeal the developments and added: “They are trying to wear us down, they think they are going to bulldoze us, and take our land.”

See houndparish.co.uk to get involved.