MEL Kendal from Milford on Sea is the new leader of New Forest council - and he marked his arrival with a blistering attack on the government's reorganisation plans.

After taking over from previous leader Simon Hayes, who is aiming to become a Conservative MP, he warned that "dangerous times" were in store for the district.

Pointing out that proposals for regional government had been put out by the office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, he warned that the Forest could find itself being merged into a much

bigger authority, possibly including such areas as Southampton, Eastleigh and Test Valley.

"I would find this very worrying. The Forest community is totally different from these other areas and it could be very difficult to make them understand our problems.

"These kind of amalgamations will bring no joy to the people of the New Forest," he said.

Councillor Kendal, 57, is a private investment finance manager. He was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and moved to Milford on Sea in 1986 with his wife Lynne, daughter Jacqueline, 23, and son Adrian, 22.

Previously deputy leader of the district, he is also Hampshire county councillor for the Lyndhurst Division and a member of Milford on Sea Parish Council.

He also paid tribute to the work done as leader by Councillor Hayes and described suggestions that he could not effectively fulfil his three roles - district leader, Hampshire Police Authority chairman and county councillor - because of the pressure of work as "nonsense."

"I have noticed how hard Simon works in making sure that everything is done on time and smoothly with the people around him," he said.

Councillor Hayes has stepped down as leader in order to contest the Dorset Mid and Poole North seat which the Tories lost to the Lib Dems at the last general election.

New deputy leader of the district council is its economy and planning portfolio holder, Councillor Tom Russell.