A GROUP of villagers are calling for a school playing field to be turned into a village green.

More than 40 residents in Netheravon have signed a petition calling for the whole village to have access to the playing field at All Saints Primary School.

They are angry with the governors of the school for deciding to put up a security fence around most of the field in 1997, excluding ordinary residents.

Although the field is owned by the school governors, the residents claim they have legal rights because it was previously used by the whole village for more than 20 years.

Last week, a two-day public inquiry was held at the village hall in Netheravon to decide whether the playing field should be turned into a village green.

Campaigners have called themselves the 'Give us our Greens' group and are being led by district councillor James Spencer.

Cllr Spencer said: "The exclusionary security fence was erected around most of the field without planning permission, despite the fact that the field had been used by other villagers for decades.

"It means that the people of Netheravon have lost a facility. The worrying consequence is that children have nowhere to play, meaning they can often be seen playing football in the High Street and along other potentially dangerous roads."