A COMMUNITY has pledged to band together to save a disused plot of land from the property developers.

More than 60 people turned out to hear options for the field, near St Mark's School in Shirley, which was taken over by travellers for more than a month last year.

They want to form a Development Trust - a not-for-profit business to take the land back for the community.

There are currently three possibilities for the derelict patch between Malmesbury Road and Suffolk Avenue, historically owned by the Civil Service Sports Association.

It could be sold to property developers for housing.

It could be taken over by a sports club.

It could be reclaimed by Southampton City Council.

An undisclosed sum of money has already been set aside by the council to offer to the CSSA and council officers are putting together a negotiation bid.

It is hoped that if the bid is successful the council will hand over the ground to a newly-formed trust to be run by Shirley residents.

Former councillor Simon Letts spearheading the campaign, told the meeting at Freemantle United Reformed Church: "There's an amount of goodwill to get this project going but it will need some pressure and a bit of a push.

"We need to work together as a community to have an impact."

No decision has yet been taken on what the land would be used for - but suggestions included opening cricket and football pitches, setting aside a conservation area and building a children's playground.

"This part of the city has no green space," said Mr Letts. "This part of Shirley is an area that desperately needs recreation space for young and old people alike."

Southampton MP Alan Whitehead added: "This is a great opportunity for residents to take ownership of a key feature of our neighbourhood and use it for community benefit."

The field was previously used by a variety of sports clubs which transferred to other sites in the mid 1990s.