A seaside community in Hampshire has been left divided after a beach hut owner transformed her property with controversial modifications.

Sophie Jarman has been accused of ruining the "ambience" with an "extremely ugly" renovation on the beach hut which she acquired for more than £30,000.

The structure is located on Hordle Cliffs beach in Milford on Sea, and was previously known locally as the "Punch and Judy hut" due to its distinctive red and yellow paintwork.

The contentious alterations involved constructing wooden decking with balustrades and erecting what critics describe as a walled fence at the property's front.

These modifications were completed without prior planning consent.

In March, Ms Jarman submitted a retrospective planning application to regularise the changes, saying: "The work has been carried out already, as we misunderstood the requirement to submit an application."

She maintained "the decking has been replaced with similar materials, in line with neighbouring huts" and that "the balustrade similarly has been extended to the length of the decking as in neighbouring huts."

Beach hut modifications have sparked a row in a British seaside town (file image)

Ms Jarman has pledged to repaint the structure in a "more becoming shade."

However, the modifications have provoked an outcry from the local community, with multiple residents submitting formal objections to the council.

Keith Charles warned: "If this application is approved it sets a precedent and all the other hut owners will be able to erect similarly ugly-looking sides to their decks, which will be awful."

He condemned the unauthorised extension as "extremely ugly" and "unfriendly and unwelcoming to people walking past, which is totally out of keeping with the ambience presented by all the other huts."

The beach hut was previously known to locals as the 'Punch and Judy hut' due to its distinctive colours (file image)

Graham Baker and his spouse described the transformed hut as a "blot on the landscape," arguing that the "massive enclosed decking area and new close boarding overshadows the neighbouring huts, who once enjoyed unbroken views along the shoreline".

They insisted the alterations failed to preserve "the character of a bygone age" that other huts had maintained for years.

Richard Arthurs said: "Please do not allow this solid wall structure to remain, everyone hates it and is horrified."

Huts at Hordle Cliff beach have an average cost ranging between £29,000 to £75,000

New Forest district council has not yet made a decision on the planning application.