A THRIVING Totton church has unveiled plans to build a major extension that will treble its existing seating capacity.

The number of people worshipping at Testwood Baptist Church in Salisbury Road, Totton, is said to have doubled in the past few years.

Clergymen already hold two services on Sunday mornings and proposals to introduce a third are under discussion.

Now the church has applied for planning permission to build a two-storey extension that will boost its seating capacity from 200 to 600.

The existing complex is a self-build project that was started in 1992 and completed five years later.

Church leaders later obtained planning consent to include a 300-seat auditorium in phase two, but say an even bigger building is now needed.

Details of the revised scheme were unveiled at a meeting of Totton and Eling Town Council's planning and transport advisory committee.

Project manager David Boam, pictured, told the committee: "Our numbers and community work have grown so much since 1992 that the premises and the 300-seat auditorium for which we already have consent is no longer large enough."

The scheme came under fire from Mike Street, of neighbouring SBH Hire, who said the proposed development would be too large.

But members decided to support the application, which will be determined by New Forest District Council.