GUARDIANS of the New Forest are set to fight plans to let dozens of passenger jets a day fly low over the National Park.

The Verderers are meeting on Wednesday and are likely to discuss proposals to expand the flightpaths used by aircraft coming into land at Southampton and Bournemouth airports.

Residents say it will shatter their peace and quiet and are calling for the proposals to be grounded.

The controversial scheme has been drawn up by Swanwick's National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which wants to accommodate more aircraft by moving the flightpath boundary by five miles.

If the scheme goes ahead the planes will be able to fly at just 5,500ft across much of the New Forest and over built-up residential areas, including Totton and Romsey.

Verderer Peter Frost said the proposed new route would result in aircraft flying over an area of countryside that was officially classed as tranquil.

"The NATS scheme has only just been put in front of us but the Verderers would certainly be concerned about anything that increased noise levels across the Forest."

Villages under the proposed new flight path include Cadnam, Minstead and Bramshaw.

Furious residents say the flights - likely to continue until 11pm each day and resume at 6am the following morning - will cause problems for anyone who has trouble sleeping.

The New Forest National Park Authority is poised to fight the proposal, saying it will spoil people's enjoyment of the area.

NATS says the scheme, due to start next April, will enable air traffic controllers to handle a greater number of flights and reduce delays for passengers using the two airports.