LEGAL action has been launched by Christchurch council against the borough's planned merger with Bournemouth and Poole.

On Monday, the authority issued proceedings in the High Court for a judicial review of the decision to implement local government reorganisation in Dorset.

The challenge comes ahead of votes in the House of Commons and House of Lords which are scheduled to take place this afternoon (Wednesday).

Christchurch has been the most vocal opponent to the scheme with a referendum in December showing that most people in the town were against joining with Bournemouth and Poole councils as one unitary authority.

The judicial review comes following a response to its pre-action protocol letter sent last week which advised that the secretary of state was not prepared to withdraw draft regulations.

Council leader, Cllr David Flagg, said: “Having taken further legal advice we have decided to issue proceedings in the High Court for a judicial review.

"Since the regulations have been laid in Parliament, the advice we have received is that the council has an arguable case against the secretary of state.

“The opinion of our legal team following the response we received last week has not changed and therefore it is important that we ask the courts to review the decision.

"Christchurch Borough Council and the majority of our residents remain opposed to local government reorganisation in Dorset and we firmly believe that the regulations drafted by the secretary of state are beyond his powers.”

With an application made, the council will now wait for a judge to make a decision about whether the judicial review should be heard in the High Court.

A vote on local government reorganisation in Dorset had been scheduled to take place in the House of Commons on Monday but will take place this afternoon instead after it was delayed by MPs including Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope.