A LEADING charity which helps safeguard the nation's heritage is facing a grass roots rebellion from villagers in a picturesque Hampshire village.

People living in National Trust properties at Mottisfont, near Romsey, believe any further rent increases could drive out many locals who have lived in the village for generations.

But the trust said it had listened to tenants' concerns and pointed out that some rents had not gone up for four years.

"The income from our houses and cottages is spent on the estate and a large sum is spent annually on repairs and improvements to the houses," said a spokeswoman.

However, Gillian Francis, who runs the tenants association, reckons the National Trust is intent on pushing up rents to get the maximum income it can for the 60 or so properties that were originally built to provide homes for Mottisfont Estate workers.

She believes if nothing is done soon, Mottisfont could be in danger of becoming a village of weekend cottages. "It will be a community of green wellies and four-by-four vehicles before too long," she said.

Villagers who moved to Mottisfont before 1977, and who have fair rent agreements, are facing possible rent increases of between 23-27 per cent this year.

New tenancies are said to be £600-£800 per month for a two-or three-bedroom property.

On Saturday, the Mottisfont Tenants' Association will join other tenants groups to lobby the National Trust's annual general meeting in a bid to get representation on the trust's ruling council. They have forged close links with the Wiltshire village of Lacock where locals are also unhappy with the National Trust.

Mum-of-four Mrs Francis, 44, spent her childhood in Mottisfont and took over the tenancy of her parents' three-bed thatched home after they died.

"It was a thriving village when I was young. There were lots of children and a lovely atmosphere," she said. "It has all changed and seems to have gone into free fall, and we don't seem able to stop it.

"When my kids grow up they certainly won't be able to afford to live here and that is very sad."

Mottisfont Parish Council chairman John Millns said there had been an influx of people who had treated Mottisfont as a country retreat. "Many of them have a second home here from their London pad, and we don't see much of them." he said.

Mr Millns said moves were afoot to press for a reduction in council tax for properties in Mottisfont.