POLO players in the New Forest have stepped into the campaign against plans to open up a huge new 980-pitch campsite in fields adjoining the New Forest Showground at Brockenhurst.

The Forestry Commission has already run into strong opposition over the plan and the New Forest Polo Club has its headquarters close to the fields at New Park Farm.

Its chairman Jack Broughton confirmed that the club had written to the Forestry Commission headquarters in Edinburgh asking its top brass to think again. He said: "We are planning to build a new clubhouse and we have already had some vandalism. We often have to clear up Coke tins from people who already get on to our ground. Putting a very large campsite right next door would increase that risk," he said.

Mr Broughton believes the scheme to close sites at Hollands Wood, Long Beech and Denny Wood and open one at New Park should also be dropped. He said there had been an overwhelming vote against the New Park proposal at a meeting attended by many key organisations.