SCHOOLCHILDREN in Pimperne are being asked to choose a name for a new housing development being built over an eyesore that has blighted their village for five years.

Bayview Developments has started work on the 12 houses and 3 flats on the site in Salisbury Road and wants youngsters at Pimperne Primary School to come up with a name for the new homes.

They are being built where the former Westover Garage stood, which for the past few years had been boarded up and created a visual bugbear to villagers.

School chair of governors and vice chair of the parish council, Michael Oliver, said: "The competition is a brilliant idea. I am delighted that the plans have gone through after all these years and I look forward to Bayview completing the project and rejuvenating a derelict site."

The winning child will receive a book voucher, alongside two runners up, and Bayview is also donating £250 towards school equipment.

Bill Buckler, Bayview's managing director, said: "We aim to work with the local community to ensure that everyone who has an interest in our projects is consulted.

"We are looking forward to naming the site with the help of the local primary school later this month."

District planners agreed to the development, despite putting a moratorium in place against further development in the area until 2011, after they heard the plans had the support of the parish council and locals.

They had also been concerned about the risk of flooding, increased traffic and had fears the development would be out of keeping with the surrounding Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty.

Previous similar sized applications for the site by different development companies were refused in 2004 and 2006.

The 15 new homes also include car parking and garages, and five of the dwellings are being set aside as affordable housing.