THE former home of one of Britain's greatest cartoonists is set to be replaced by a new building near the River Test at Timsbury - but the studio where he created some of his greatest work is to be retained.

Test Valley Borough Council's Southern area planning committee this week granted planning permission for a new house at Heron's Mead, off Stockbridge Road at Timsbury.

But the application included the retention of a staff cottage and the studio, which means the room where he did much of his work will stay.

Norman Thelwell, who died just over a year ago, was renowned for his cartoons of rebellious ponies and their riders.

He moved with his family to Braishfield in 1959 and bought Heron's Mead nine years later.

A great enthusiast for Romsey's history, traditions and surrounding countryside, he also supported some of its campaigns and organisations.

His 'Stop the Gravel Vandals' cartoon became an emblem of the Timsbury area's campaign against gravel extraction and limited edition prints of a painting of Romsey Abbey from

Green Hill raised a considerable amount for a major Romsey Hospital Appeal. Save the Children was another charity which benefited from the generosity of the Birkenhead-born author.

A report from planning officer Katherine Fitzherbert-Green told this week's planning committee meeting that the replacement building being considered was smaller than one previously considered.

She concluded: "The proposal is considered to be acceptable with no demonstrable harm to the character and appearance of the countryside or the amenities of properties within the vicinity."