IT'S highway robbery. That is the accusation being levelled at New Forest District Council after it charged a family double for a bench and permission for putting up a gravestone in memory of a war hero.

Edward and Jean Donovan had to pay the council £780 for the wooden bench and £199 for permission for a tombstone at Mrs Donovan's father Frank Neller's grave in the Milford Road cemetery in New Milton.

That is twice the normal charge of £390 for the seat and £99 for the memorial.

The reason? They live four miles away in Highcliffe, and that's over the county line in Dorset.

Mr Donovan, from Nada Road, Highcliffe, said his father-in-law died last year, at the age of 102, after living in sheltered accommodation in Homemill House, New Milton, for 18 years.

During the war Mr Neller served in the Home Guard before joining the Army and taking part in the D-Day landings. He was later a sergeant with Field Marshall Montgomery's HQ staff in Germany.

"Exploitation of the relatives of war heroes is contemptible. We think Dick Turpin could learn a trick or two from this council," said Mr Donovan.

"We felt the double charge was extortionate but paid it all the same, although Frank was local and we consider we are too."

They complained to the Echo when they found they would have to fork out double the normal charge for permission to put up a tombstone.

Colin Read, assistant director of commercial services at New Forest District Council denied the council was acting like highwaymen and said other councils did the same.

He said: "Mr Neller was buried in the Milford Road cemetery.

"Because he was a resident we charged him the single fee.

"Consequently it is now owned by Mrs Donovan - she is the grant holder - and she does not live inside the district, so she has to pay double the fee."