A SPORTS and social club's future is in doubt as a parish council attempts to revoke its lease following a dispute over opening hours.

The committee of Marske Social and Recreational Association (MSRA) face the prospect of being evicted from the Southfield Road site, if Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council, who are trustees of the land, get their way.

However, the committee warns it may dissolve the association in little over a month's time if it faces losing control of the site.

For more than a year, the parish council has being discussing the way forward for the association in the wake of complaints over anti-social behaviour, illicit drinking and claims of Charity Commission rule breaches.

However, club steward Gayle Scott insists there have been no problems during her four years in charge of the association's bar.

"It has been a really difficult 12-15 months, we know we are in breach of Clause 22 in the lease (which limits opening hours) but that was the case before I took over and there has never been any problems at all.

"It would be heartbreaking to lose this bar after all of the work that everybody has put in over the years."

The land was donated to the village by Lord Zetland for recreation and the association helps look after the tennis courts, bowls green and club house. It is also shared with Marske United who plan to redevelop their ground.

The issue has been discussed at several parish council meetings with the minutes from July last year showing members heard the bar was running out of hours and for profit.

Association chairman Ged Burns said: "We would rather dissolve the association than hand it over to someone else.

"I have only been a committee member for a year and have just been elected as Chairman but I have been coming to this club for more than ten years and it is part of community life.

"We were reported to the council for hosting charity nights and we were investigated by the Charity Commission as a result but we had done nothing wrong. How can people object to us hosting charity nights, especially when we don't charge for them and they are often for the benefit of the community?

"Some people are saying we are opposed to the football club's plans but we are not, we welcome them and hope the scheme comes off."

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council declined to comment.