A SOUTHAMPTON man has been given the worst possible Christmas present - notice to quit his city home of 16 years.

Campaigner Richard Hazelton, 59 - who hit the headlines when he placed a saucy barricade of blow-up sex dolls wearing combat gear outside his home in St Mary Street - has been told he must leave his property on January 11.

His home is being bulldozed as part of the multi-million-pound regeneration of St Mary Street by developers Bellway Homes.

Mr Hazelton has fought the loss of his home every step of the way and forced the council to take part in a public inquiry into the matter.

No agreement has yet been reached with Bellways over how much money he will be given to compensate him for losing his home, said Mr Hazelton.

"What a great Christmas present this has been from the council!

"They really are pretty heartless - there is no need to do this.

"They could have waited until after Christmas - but they say the scheme must go on, come what may," he said.

Mr Hazelton said his property - which includes a shopfront - was his pension fund for the future.

He added: "The original spec that independent consultants came up with included grants being given to property owners in the street to do up their homes.

"It was known as LOSS - or Living Over the Shops Scheme - and my real niggle is that I have been totally excluded from this.

"I will get a payment that is within the guidelines and reflects the market value - a value that has been cut because the council allowed the street to fall into disrepair."

Regeneration executive member Councillor Paul Jenks said: "The letter which Mr Hazelton has received follows the decision by the Secretary of State in October to uphold the council's Compulsory Purchase Order.

"Mr Hazelton has been kept up to date throughout the whole CPO process and has been offered advice and support in finding alternative accommodation.

"Once the CPO process has been completed, the final stages of this major regeneration programme can commence. When finished, the Bellway development will provide St Mary's with 83 new homes and seven shops.