Totton has fired the first shots in its battle against plans for a massive dock development at Dibden Bay.

Town councillors said Totton would be hit by a huge increase in road and rail traffic if the proposed container terminal was approved.

Members of the planning and transport committee were debating the Dibden Bay scheme for the first time since it was submitted on October 2. Committee chairman George Dart said Totton would face "horrendous" problems if the application were given the go-ahead by the government.

Mr Dart warned that rail traffic in the town would rise by 32 per cent.

He said port-related road traffic, coupled with an overall increase in car use, would produce a 40 per cent rise in vehicle movements.

The proposals submitted by Associated British Ports will be approved or rejected by the Environment Secretary after a public inquiry lasting several months.

Totton town clerk Derek Biggs outlined the strategy he said the council should adopt.

He told the committee: "We should only consider the issues that directly affect Totton, and not spread ourselves too thinly.

"We have also got a duty to identify issues that will be a problem for Totton if the scheme is ultimately approved by the government."