WILTSHIRE County Council has joined the battle against merging Brokenborough with Malmesbury.

The Boundary Commission for England is proposing that the hamlet become part of Malmesbury for county council elections.

The proposal follows the commission's decision to put Brokenborough in with the town for the district council elections.

Brokenborough was in the Malmesbury ward ten years ago, but the commission moved it into the Malmesbury ward after a campaign by parishioners .

"Now they are reversing their decision," said county councillor Carole Soden, who is leading the campaign for the boundary review working party.

She is putting the hamlet's case before the commission in the hope it will change its mind.

She said: "The people of Brokenborough are absolutely livid about it,"

"The county council are supporting Brokenborough's stance in this."

Brokenborough Parish Council chairman, Bob Tallon, said: "We would prefer to be linked with other rural communities. Malmesbury is urban and has different priorities."

The Boundary Commission will not reveal its decision until February 2004.