AN Eastleigh councillor has called for action to stop a rat invasion of the town centre when redevelopment work starts on the site of the former Church of the Resurrection.

Last night as councillors agreed a multi-million pound scheme by Eastleigh Housing Association to convert and restore the landmark building to provide 25 flats.

Since a fierce fire swept through the listed building in July 1985 the shell of the church has become breeding ground for rats.

The rodent raiders have been seen sweeping across the nearby Leigh Road recreation ground. And there are fears that major building work on the Romsey Road site could trigger a tidal wave of rats.

Councillor Glynn Davies-Dear, who is also county councillor for Eastleigh Central, said that the old church site had one of the largest rat populations in the town.

He warned: "As soon as work starts these rats are going to be disturbed.

"With an upsurge in the number of sightings of rats in that area it is important that the issue is dealt with completely before major work starts on the site. Unusually mild weather has not killed off the rats and they are causing problems throughout that area."

Mr Davies-Dear feared that rats escaping the development could flood into other areas of the town.

He urged council planners to get Eastleigh Housing Association to deal with the rats issue before the work started.

A housing association spokesman last night assured the Eastleigh Local Area Committee that the rat problem would be dealt with by the contractors as part of the health and safety plan for the site.

Meanwhile the huge question mark which has hung over the controversial "church without a roof" site is set to be lifted after councillors gave their full backing to the scheme which will cost between £3m and £4m.

The flats will be built on five floors, a communal hall area will be included on the ground floor and the original volume of the church will be restored.