A NEW hall is to be built on a graveyard after a church found in favour of its vicar in a bitter row that has shattered a village community.

Objectors to the plans to erect a new hall at Hordle Church say they are disappointed and angry that their views have been "dismissed."

They campaigned vociferously against the plans, claiming it was immoral to move gravestones. They also said the new hall would add to traffic misery in the village.

But the Chancellor of the Winchester Diocese, Christopher Clark QC, who headed a consistory court hearing into the case, said the hall - which has planning permission - would not disturb human remains and would not cause traffic problems.

He also found that the parish church council had kept its members and the community informed of the plans to build a new church hall and that the existing hall had been bequeathed for church, not village, use.

Mr Clark also criticised the leading objector to the church hall plans, Hordle resident Tim Boyce, for failing to understand the reasons why the church wanted to build the hall and questioned his credibility as a witness.

However, Mr Clark finished by saying: "What is important now is that all parties and witnesses involved in this case should seek reconciliation with each other in a spirit of true humility and genuine friendship."

But Tim Boyce, chairman of the objectors' group, said the judgement will just make feelings in Hordle run even higher, adding: "The problem we have there has been no public discussion on this issue for three years when the project started and then a church court finds in favour of the church." The objectors are now considering their next actions.