ALLOTMENT holders are to be shown the door because Eastleigh council needs more room to bury the dead.

Council chiefs have agreed to serve notice to quit on about 25 gardeners at the town's Woodside Avenue allotment site to extend the Brookwood Avenue cemetery.

Councillor Alan Broadhurst told colleagues on the council's executive Cabinet that when the 1.1-acre site was acquired it was always intended to be for cemetery use - but allotments had been allowed until the land was needed.

"That time has come," he said.

"In about four years we will run out of space in our existing cemetery if the current land usage carries on.

"Many trades experience a recession but undertakers never do. This will give us space for another ten to 15 years."

Possession of the land is required by April 2004 and allotment holders must quit by December 2003.

Discussions will take place with the Eastleigh and Bishopstoke Allotment Association to see whether the allotment holders affected can be relocated to other parts of the Woodside Avenue site or other sites.

Councillor Peter Wall told Cabinet colleagues: "I hope we can consider what support can be given to assist people to relocate.

"Those who have made a real pride of their allotment will be reluctant to move. We need to think how to minimise the impact on the allotment holders."