FURIOUS residents overshadowed the grand opening of Hadlow College's new £450,000 eco-building by staging a musical protest – using nursery rhymes as their battle cry.

Blackmans Lane residents stood defiantly in their back gardens as they blasted out the tunes at ear-splitting volume, upsetting proceedings during the opening speeches.

They are angry after a footpath to the new building, which runs alongside their gardens, was put in by the college. They say it is invading their privacy and described the sing-a-long tirade as their "last resort" in a battle to get staff to listen to their complaints.

Toby Kearns, 49, who led the musical attack by rigging up a four-speaker PA system in his garden, said: "It was basically a David and Goliath approach, done with an element of humour.

"They say what they do doesn't affect us; it just showed very simply something we can do can affect them."

Dozens of dignitaries and members of the agricultural community were invited to take a look round the college's new rural regeneration centre last Thursday, sited within its dairy in Blackmans Lane.

The building, which uses ground source heat pumps, re-uses rainwater and is made from recycled materials, is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

It is hoped it will become a national hub for agriculture sectors to meet, hold seminars and provide opportunities to bring business into Kent.

But the afternoon was shaken up by neighbours when they played tunes such as Wheels on the Bus as guests moved outside to a marquee.

College staff rushed to placate them and managed to stop the nursery rhyme barrage as the main speeches began.

Mr Kearns, a graphic designer who has lived in Blackmans Lane for three years, chose children's songs to get his point across as he said the college had a "very childish" attitude.

Speaking after the tuneful tirade, he said: "It's just about being good neighbours. We love living here, I don't mind the smell. I love to be able to walk over there on a Sunday with my children and watch a cow being born.

"But there's a flip side. They're getting bigger and taking over everything in Hadlow."

Neighbours Gordon and Brenda Davies, Paula Ryle and Keith Ransley joined him in taking a stand against the college.

Miss Ryle, 65, said: "It's the only way we can be noticed. They want to build this path, it takes away our privacy. We don't want to be screened in. These college people are supposed to be considerate of our rural needs."

Mrs Davies, 77, added: "We're not at all happy about it; if they had consulted us in the first place a compromise could have come about."

Residents say they are prepared to drop their complaints if the path is re-routed and were due to meet with college staff on Tuesday to discuss their grievances.

Hadlow College spokesman Pat Crawford said: "The friendships and links with neighbours and the wider community are very important to Hadlow. They are something on which the college places great emphasis.

"Members of the college's senior management team have invited Mr Kearns and his neighbours to a meeting to discuss their concerns and to find a satisfactory way forward."