Stanmore residents are preparing to go to war over plans to develop their estate.

They launched their counter-attack at a packed public meeting to discuss the plans. Over 130 residents at Tuesday's meeting agreed to form an action group to defend Stanmore from unwanted development including the highly controversial "supported housing".

They are angry that Winchester City Council kept secret for over a year plans for hostels for ex-offenders, possibly including paedophiles, former drug users, single mothers and teenagers coming from care.

The pressure group has been inspired by the recent defeat of plans for a hostel on a garage compound between Fox Lane and Stanmore Lane.

But the estate is being targeted for other hostels and also for social/affordable housing, with garage compounds and allotments under threat.

Several houses would be demolished and tenants relocated to allow access to the allotment sites.

Rumours are rife around the estate, the meeting heard. Alan Weeks, of Stanmore Lane, said he knew of a plan for 26 flats in Drayton Street.

Jim Cutts, of Fox Lane, who chaired the meeting, said: "The action group will campaign on people's behalf. Stanmore is changing and development will take place over the next few years, so we must stick our noses in where they're not wanted."

The group will campaign to stop the supported housing scheme planned for Thurmond Crescent.

Anita Bell was concerned that the proposed hostel in her street would attract drug-users. "There is a lot of drugs around Stanmore now. If they build this, what am I going to do with my kids? It has got to stop. It is not right."

Hilary Bradshaw, an allotment-holder, said: "We're desperate to keep these sites, even though some are not very well-used. "We've heard that two will be built on. If we want to keep them, we have to use them. Once they go, they're gone forever.

"The council has not been supportive at all. We pay an exorbitant rent to them and get nothing back."

Chris Maguire, of Kingsley Place, a resident for 55 years, said: "The allotments are the lungs of the estate. Give them away and there's nothing left."

Mr Cutts said all the allotments were being considered for development and it was vital that people said how they felt.

Local councillor, Patrick Davies, said he had called for the scrutiny committee to look at how the whole "supported housing" issue was handled.

The meeting unanimously agreed a seven-strong committee for the provisionally-named Stanmore Community Action Group (SCAG). They are Jim Cutts, Paul Tubb, Colin Norris, John Leroy, Anita Bell, Hilary Bradshaw and Helen Spencer.