Chandler's Ford Tories are to use their new-found power to overhaul a beauty spot to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Conservatives, who dominate the town after the recent council elections, want to extend improvements currently being made to Hiltingbury Lakes.

Individuals and organisations will be given the chance to donate seats or trees while schoolchildren will be encouraged to plant wild flowers at the site.

Tory group leader Councillor Godfrey Olson, pictured right, told the Daily Echo: "We hear so much about vandalism these days, I would like to get children on board at an early age and make them feel community-minded.

"It is a very attractive amenity area which is not used as much as I'm sure it could be.

"For people who want to go for a rural-type walk, walking around the lakes listening to the birdsong and looking at the wildlife can be a pleasant experience virtually on their doorstep."

Tories won six of the eight seats on Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury local area committee in the Eastleigh elections on May 2, despite the ruling Liberal Democrats taking a stronger grip on the borough, with 31 of the 44 councillors.

Voters exacted their revenge on the Lib Dems following the bitter battle over Chandler's Ford's controversial Waitrose superstore development.

Councillor Olson also promised to make the local area committee more "user-friendly" and welcoming for residents.

He said: "We shall have to work within the system and the meagre budget that Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury gets.

"We shall endeavour to get best value for money and I'm hoping we can make it a more friendly place.

"We must listen to residents' views and their wishes and endeavour to carry out as many as we can in the tight restraints under which we will be working."