A RESIDENTS' association has had its name officially registered by another group.

In a statement in its newsletter the former West Christchurch Residents Association announced "our name has been taken from us".

Now renamed 'Your Residents Association', the group revealed in its statement on Sunday that it had received a letter from Ringwood-based businessman Alistair Somerville-Ford saying: "This week I incorporated West Christchurch Residents Association Ltd (by guarantee). As your operation is an unincorporated association I must advise you that you may no longer use the title 'West Christchurch Residents Association'."

The newsletter continues saying the association had considered making a legal challenge to the move, however "that would mean spending a lot of our member's money on litigation that there is no guarantee that we would win.

"We have therefore decided to take a less expensive and more pragmatic course.

"We have changed our name."

The Echo contacted chairman Jim Biggin for comment but he said he had nothing further to add.

The group's statement alleges that Dr Somerville-Ford was motivated by its criticism of a leaflet he published earlier this month, which slammed plans to combine Christchurch with Bournemouth and Poole councils.

In a previous newsletter the group had said: "Various aspects of the leaflet must be questioned regarding the accuracy of the information portrayed and you should treat every word in it with considerable scepticism."

The leaflet was described as "extremely biased" by the borough's chief executive David McIntosh, and was withdrawn after a row over the inclusion of council logos on its front page.

Dr Somerville-Ford, who lives in Ringwood, confirmed he had registered the name, but dismissed the suggestion he was motivated by "politics".

"I was approached by a group of West Christchurch residents who said they needed help, as this group, which is supposed to be a residents' association, is ridiculous," he said.

"It has no constitution, no record of its meetings, no annual accounts. It is a personal blog.

"I have just registered the paperwork and I am going to pass it over to these Christchurch residents next week."

He said he considered the £600 cost of registering the name a "gift" to the new group, and added: "Good luck to them."