Winchester residents caused a stir at Wednesday night's meeting of the full council when they turned up to protest about the city's alleged mistreatment of the environment.

They handed in two petitions criticising its support for the park and ride car park and its granting permission to several controversial schemes.

But the council chamber erupted into anger and bemusement when one campaigner, Keith Story, made a bizarre gesture of dissent.

Wearing a white glove and accompanied by two women, Jocelyn Edmondstone and Mary Wilks, Mr Story touched the historic mace resting in front of the mayor, John Steel.

The symbolic protest came as Alan Weeks, of the City Residents' Association, read his petition calling for a moratorium on new development in the city centre.

He said Mr Story had touched the mace to "reclaim the city", referring to Mr Weeks's belief that the "views and opinions of citizens, instead of being welcomed, have often been discounted and even rebuffed by the council."

One councillor, Ray Love, called Mr Story a "disgrace", but the protest was applauded by some 40 members of the public in the gallery.

The other petition was made by Michael Edmondstone, a student at Peter Symonds' College, who was protesting about the park and ride extension.

He said: "It seems crazy to spoil the rare beauty of an easily accessible wildflower meadow when the park and ride could be better sited at Winnall which is already spoilt."

Mr Love, speaking later, attacked Mr Story. "What a stupid little gesture! They are such hypocrites! Where were they at Twyford Down? (the destruction of the hill for the M3 in the early 1990s)?"