A group of villagers has come up with an unusual strategy to try and protect an area of open land from developers.

Though Strouds Green at Totton near Southampton looks like wasteground, the villagers say that it is an ancient village green.

A horse grazing at Strouds Green

They found if they could prove they had open access to the land for over 20 years it could be designated as a village gren and protected from development.

However, the owner is keen to sell the 26 acres of land to property developers Linden homes, who have planning permission to build 69 new homes there. They say it is not and never has been a village green.