CAMPAIGNERS claim a grave has been disturbed during the building of a controversial church hall in the New Forest.

Protesters say an object unearthed by a digger at All Saints Church, Hordle, has been identified by a doctor as part of a human forearm.

The grim discovery has fuelled a long-running row over the decision to build the £600,000 hall in the churchyard.

When work started church leaders denied that graves would be disturbed, but objectors to the scheme say their worst fears have come true.

They have also criticised the church for suggesting that the people who found the bone are the victims of a "Piers Morgan-type hoax".

Tim Boyce, who has led opposition to the new hall, said: "Significant amounts of spoil were left dumped on the edge of the site.

"Villagers were looking through an observation hole in the fence when they saw what appeared to be a piece of bone sticking out of the soil.

"It was examined by a retired doctor, who said it was almost certainly a piece of human forearm.

"It's impossible to date the bone without a proper forensic examination and there's no way of identifying the grave from which it came.

"We believe it should be properly reburied, but don't think the graveyard is suitable given the disrespect that has already been shown."

Mr Boyce said it was not too late to abandon the church hall project and restore the graveyard to its original condition.

He added: "The church has already disturbed at least one grave. They should express a degree of sorrow and apologise for what has happened."

The bone was spotted by Brian Walker, of nearby Everton, who took photographs of the scene.

In a statement church spokesman the Rev Graham Smith said: "Mr Walker alleges that he found a bone on a spoil heap on the building site and that it is from a human forearm.

"If this is the case the church takes the matter very seriously and will see that the appropriate steps are taken regarding a Christian reburial."

However, the statement refers to Piers Morgan, sacked as editor of the Daily Mirror after photographs allegedly showing British troops torturing Iraqi prisoners were exposed as fakes.

It adds: "In the light of what happened to Mr Morgan I am mindful that Mr Walker could be the victim of a hoax.

"Meanwhile there is no valid reason why the building work should not continue."

Mr Walker rejected claims that he had been duped, saying the eight-inch piece of bone was firmly embedded in the earth.

He said: "It was obvious that someone hadn't just put it there. In any case, where would a hoaxer have obtained a human bone?"

Objectors have spent years fighting the new hall.

New Forest District Council rejected the scheme, but the application was subsequently approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs after the church lodged an appeal.

Campaigners suffered another setback at the beginning of last year when a special church court ruled that the controversial scheme should proceed.

Within weeks protesters said the building site resembled a First World War battlefield, but Mr Smith denied that graves were being disturbed.

The construction work is being carried out by Mount Joy (Southern) Ltd, of Wimborne, Dorset, who declined to comment.

A Diocese of Winchester spokesman said: "We haven't got the bone and aren't in a position to verify any information or give any advice."