"PREDATORS" ready to snap up homes and back gardens for development should be halted - according to a new website launched to "save Ringwood".

Several residents have joined forces and launched www.save-ringwood.co.uk in a bid to fight in-fill development and the demolition of homes.

And a petition to halt development in Eastfield Lane has been dropped at homes along neighbouring roads.

One resident, who helped launch the site but did not wish to be named, told the Forest Journal: "In-filling and the demolition of lovely family homes seems to be happening in many roads.

"The plans for development are out of character with the area and create dangerously over-crowded roads.

"Local communities are also being divided. Developers are sending letters to any homes which they think would be a good target for demolition and redevelopment, including my own home.

"With some neighbours agreeing to sell, and others refusing to sell, bad feelings between neighbours are being created."

The website states: "Are you aware that there are predators about? Well-known national developers have approached some homeowners in the area to purchase their homes and gardens as building plots."

The move to launch a site is a joint effort by a group of residents in Hightown Road, Eastfield Lane and the Cloughs Road area and comes following the recent submission of planning applications for development in the area.

A leaflet has been dropped to hundreds of homes from concerned residents to alert people to the planning applications, which have raised concerns about over-development and increased pressure on services and roads.

Ringwood Town Council has objected to a major planning application for 31 new homes at 83-87, the rear of 79-81 and 81-91 Eastfield Lane, submitted by developer Antler Homes.

Councillors have also recommended a plan for two terraces of three houses at 74 Eastfield Lane be refused.

A spokesman from Antler Homes told the Forest Journal that it had conducted tests to ensure that the current road network can accommodate the slight increase in traffic.

Both applications are due to go before New Forest District Council's planning development control committee at a date to be confirmed.