IT is a neighbourhood where they have lived in harmony for nearly 20 years.

The pensioners of Pitmore Close, Allbrook - many of them widows - rely on each other like family members for friendship and support.

Now that community spirit is likely to be reduced to rubble.

Bulldozers are waiting to transform the quiet suburb into a concrete jungle in a bid to meet the growing housing needs of the area.

The elderly residents were livid when a representative from Eastleigh Housing Association visited them and announced his organisation intended to demolish their homes.

Widower Edith Lidstone was informed she had nothing to fear because the plans would not commence "for a few years yet".

She said: "He told me, 'This won't happen for three or four years so it won't affect you'.

"He might as well have said I'll be dead by then. Does he know how long I'm going to live?

She added: "When my husband died 27 years ago I had to move. I don't see why I should have to move again."

Neighbours of Mrs Lidstone were equally disgusted by the threat to their tightly knit community.

Audrey King, 70, said: "We're all good friends here. We know when there's some trouble, there will be somebody there.

"We don't know we're still going to have that wherever they want to move us to."

Patrick Shelley, services director of Eastleigh Housing Association, confirmed there were plans to replace the ten Pitmore Close bungalows with 11 three-bedroom houses and eight two-bedroom flats.

He said: "The new homes are vital to meet local demand identified in recently published figures from the National Housing Federation."

The average price of a home in Eastleigh is currently £180,000 - nearly seven times the average annual wage, the report stated.

In the past five years homelessness in the borough has risen by nearly a third and the number of households registered as being in housing need by nearly half, Mr Shelley continued.

He said: "The association has been reviewing all of its assets which includes garage and low density bungalow sites such as Pitmore Close.

"The proposals will lead to outdated garage blocks and bungalows in Bishopstoke, Netley and Eastleigh, being replaced with modern, flexible accommodation required for a range of tenants with urgent housing needs.

"We are at the stage of consulting with current residents before planning permission is sought. If it is granted, it is unlikely that any building works will take place for several years.

"I am very dismayed that one resident has taken these comments personally. This was never our intention.

"We are particularly sensitive to the need to talk to people about moving home on an individual basis as it can be very stressful.

"If any residents need to move home we do all we can to meet their personal requirements and a full compensation package is made available."