Totton has joined the battle against plans to build a huge campsite in the heart of the New Forest.

The Forestry Commission wants to close the Hollands Wood campsite at Brockenhurst and open a new facility on the other side of the road.

The proposed site is at New Park - home of the annual New Forest Show.

Organisers of the three-day show say the event, which attracts 100,000 spectators, will fold if the new campsite is given the go-ahead.

Brockenhurst residents say the scheme will also have a detrimental effect on the local ecology.

Now Totton and Eling Town Council's planning and transport advisory committee has decided to oppose the New Park plan, largely on environmental grounds.

Councillors took the decision after hearing from Andrew Mitchell, chairman of pressure group Campaign Against New Park Campsite.

Mr Mitchell cited a long list of objections to the scheme, including its impact on Brockenhurst shops.

He said Hollands Wood was close to the village, whereas New Park was farther north and on the opposite side of the busy A337.

"Campers who have to go shopping will drive to Lyndhurst rather than attempt to carry out a potentially dangerous right turn," said Mr Mitchell.

"In short, the new campsite will shut some shops at Brockenhurst and cause problems at Lyndhurst at the same time."

New Park will have the same number of pitches as Hollands Wood, but will occupy a larger area and will be open all year round.

Mr Mitchell warned that the new facility was likely to have a bigger impact than the existing site.

He said: "We'll still have 600 pitches, but the number of tents or caravans on the site will not necessarily be confined to 600.

"I've seen several units on the same pitch, which means we could end up with the equivalent of a small town near the village."

The Forestry Commission says New Park is a more suitable site for hundreds of tourists than Hollands Wood, which is regarded as ecologically sensitive.

It claims the introduction of a park-and-ride scheme would solve any problems caused by the loss of parking at the New Forest Show.