DETERMINED villagers battling to prevent a half-million pound church hall going up on their local graveyard have scored their first minor victories of the campaign.

The Winchester Diocese has agreed not to proceed with the sale of Hordle Memorial Hall until after a formal court hearing into hotly-disputed proposals for a replacement complex in the grounds of the village's All Saints' Church.

And, for the first time, the church establishment has suggested a meeting with objectors to break the deadlock - but residents want any talks heard out in the open, not in private.

Meanwhile, the protest is continuing to gather momentum, with a march through the village planned and a petition, which will be sent direct to the Queen, already garnering hundreds of signatures from disgruntled locals.

Villagers sprang into action when the Rev Michael Anderson and the Parochial Church Council pushed ahead with the £500,000 two-storey hall project, even moving several gravestones, amid widespread opposition from parishioners, planners and councillors.

Many people insist the scheme would trigger road chaos in Hordle Lane, which also hosts the village primary school, and is completely inappropriate for the site.

They are also furious at the church's decision to sell off the popular nearby Memorial Hall to raise funds for the unwanted new building.

However, church solicitors have told the Objectors Action Committee the site will not now be sold until a consistory court, called by the Diocese to look into the furore, has reached its decision.

That may not happen for months, but committee leader Tim Boyce said local resolve was growing stronger by the day.

"If the church authorities believe opposition will fizzle out, they are sorely mistaken," he said. "Support for the campaign is increasing all the time. Hundreds of people have signed up as official objectors, while offers of financial help to cover legal costs have been pouring in.

"Church solicitors have asked for a private meeting to discuss the situation, but we would much prefer to have talks in public, as we've requested all along.

"Whatever happens, it seems the church is now a little worried that it may not be doing the right thing in Hordle."