THERE could be as many as 500 lorry movements a day at a huge supermarket warehouse planned for a New Forest village.

German retailer Lidl wants to build a regional distribution centre on a field at Ower on the edge of the National Park with the creation of up to 200 jobs.

But residents have vowed to fight the proposal to build the centre at Wade Park Farm, near Junction 2 of the M27, which they say will “ruin” village life.

At a public consultation held in Totton on Thursday of last week, Lidl revealed 180 of their own lorries plus up to 100 contracted hauliers could visit the warehouse each day.

Ower resident Kim Cropper said: “The village is based around one road and now we are told there could be up to 500 lorry movements along it each day – Ower just couldn’t cope with that.

“It’s not even like it’s going to be a nine to five operation – the warehouse will be operating 24 hours a day. We will keep fighting this plan.”

The 51-year-old, who lives opposite the proposed site, even offered to sell her house to Lidl for its market value and move home.

She added: “Our house will be worthless if this warehouse goes ahead. We moved to Ower for a quiet life and if these proposals go ahead it will ruin everything.”

Copythorne resident June Read added: “I definitely will not be supporting the proposals.

“If it goes ahead it will be a real nightmare for the people of Ower, and will also cause real traffic problems for the surrounding areas.”

However, many Hampshire residents welcomed the proposed distribution centre, Lidl’s ninth in the UK, which would serve between 60 and 80 stores in the south- east.

Thornhill resident Heath Jeffery, 41, said: “It’s a good thing for the area. Totton and the surrounding area could do with 200 more jobs, so I’m all for it.”

Lidl UK construction executive Jeremy Williams said the company was a responsible developer and would try to “iron out” any issues residents might have.

Last year the company opened 40 new stores, bringing its nationwide total to more than 500.