A RESTORED railway station, now a unique wedding reception venue, could run into the buffers if Test Valley Borough Council planning officers get their way.

Owned by Mr and Mrs Val and Tony Charrington, Horsebridge Station - which was one of those axed by Beeching in the 1960s - has taken on a new lease of life in recent years.

Couples can enjoy a romantic reception there after tying the knot elsewhere.

The enterprise, which helps to pay for the upkeep of the Grade Two listed building, has really taken off.

So much so that the Charrington's now want to erect a marquee there to hold wedding receptions from May to October with about one event per week using the station, railway carriage, platform and the marquee itself.

The proposal has caused a stir in the village with 12 letters supporting the idea and five opposing.

King's Somborne Parish Council supports the plan and Houghton Parish Council has raised no objection.

The applicants even ran their own petition to find out what walkers on the Test Way thought of the marquee, and discovered the vast majority approved.

But Test Valley Borough Council planning officers are recommending the southern area planning committee should refuse the application on Tuesday.

They say the application has insufficient justification demonstrating an overriding need in an area of countryside where the general policy is one of restraint'.

They say the marquee will adversely affect the rural character of the area - and they don't regard it as a tourist facility.

Mrs Charrington, a former professional singer, said: "Should the planners win on this point it would affect all other venues in the Test Valley who use marquees - about nine - and also the rest of the country."

And she added: "We need this application to win as it means the survival of the station.

"It is our heritage and it should be enjoyed. Wedding receptions in marquees are quintessentially English."