CAMPAIGNING residents are fighting to save the grounds of an abandoned Eastleigh school as a "green lung" for their community.

The former Rookwood Infant school in Penshurst Way was closed in 1997 because of falling pupil numbers - despite a campaign to keep the school open.

The site became a target for arsonists and an invasion by travellers before Hampshire County Council answered pleas from locals to get something sorted.

Eighteen months ago the go-ahead was given for the adaptation and re-use of the school building as a permanent home for the Hampshire Music Service and part of the County Youth Service.

Part of the 2.3 acre site to the west of the school building was retained for car parking and the remainder of the land was earmarked for a mix of affordable, social, key worker and open market housing in a deal with Eastleigh Council.

However, after seeing development plans drawn up by Swaythling Housing Society, locals have formed a residents' association and launched a campaign to keep the land as a play area and local nature reserve.

They have also written to TV naturalists Chris Packham and Bill Oddie to see if they can help.

Now, chairman of the Boyatt Wood North Residents' Association, Barry Phillips, says they also want to contact other residents' groups across the borough in a bid to combat infill development.

He said: "Green land on estates and pockets of land around the area are coming under the same sort of pressure we have got and if we can join up I'm sure we will have a louder voice."

Mr Phillips said residents were "totally shocked" when they were shown plans which would have seen 25 houses and flats built on the Rookwood site with access along the narrow Penshurst Way.

His wife, Anne, who is secretary of the residents' association, said: "We are now taking the stance that the area should be left green.

"Enough is enough. There have been so many infill sites there is now no where for children to play. We are going to try and keep this green for the youngsters of the area."

Mr Phillips added: "That place was derelict for five years and at present it is locked and fenced. It has become totally naturalised. There are dozens of species of birds, a pond, frogs, foxes, bats and slow worms."

A Hampshire County Council spokesman said: "Swaythling Housing Society have been working on the project with Eastleigh Council and ourselves.

"The number of houses on the site is as a result of government policies. Developers are being encouraged to make best use of brownfield sites."