A HAMPSHIRE church aiming to raise £1m for a new building has received a cash injection.

All Saints Church in North Baddesley has been given £5,000 by North Baddesley Parish Council to get its ambitious appeal off the ground.

Parish council chairman Alan Dowden is even putting a bid for more money to Test Valley Council.

In January, he will ask council bosses to back the appeal to raise cash for a new community building - and donate £10,000 from council coffers.

Lib Dem councillor Mr Dowden said: "We should be supporting this development for the community and encouraging other organisations to support it."

The existing 1960s Rownhams Road church, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, would be demolished under plans to redevelop the site.

A new church, open seven days a week, would be built with a flexible space that could be used for meetings or as a caf.

Vicar Peter Salisbury told the Daily Echo: "The redeveloped site will create an atmosphere where people feel free to relax, explore and meet together as a community."