PLANS have been revealed to fly scores of passenger planes over the most tranquil parts of Hampshire.

Residents say the moves to widen the flightpath for planes flying into Southampton and Bournemouth airports will shatter their peace. They are now demanding air traffic bosses rethink their proposals to allow planes to fly over the protected New Forest National Park as well as residential areas in Totton and Romsey.

Among the protesters is former Hampshire Euro MP and Romsey councillor Roy Perry who said: "We're facing a double whammy from aircraft noise. Southampton Airport is proposing large increases in flights and now NATS wants to bring the flight path over quiet areas around our town."

Expansion plans would see aircraft movements at Southampton airport increase from 150 to more than 360 flights per day by 2030, with an increase of six million passengers.

Bournemouth airport, which currently attracts almost a million passengers a year, is also in the early stages of a £32m expansion which will see a threefold increase in flights by 2015.

Read the full story in today's Daily Echo