NATIONAL park officials say a sports pitch would ruin the landscape around a Dales village.

Planners recommend refusal of the £700,000 proposal at Reeth, despite conceding that it was a well thought-out project and much welcomed facility that would be of benefit to the community.

A report to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's planning committee said the development, which would include a single-pitch, floodlit games area, would harm the landscape.

Officers said the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence of an over-riding need for the new pitch to outweigh the landscape issue, and that an underused games area at Askrigg, about 30 minutes' drive away in neighbouring Wensleydale, is within reasonable reach.

Planners said that, with amendments, proposals for a new sports pavilion, to replace a dilapidated hut, would be acceptable.

The committee will discuss the application, which was submitted by Reeth Parish Council on behalf of Reeth and District Athletic Club, next Tuesday.

The athletic club formed a committee to head the project after local people and schools backed it. Preliminary discussions have been held between organisers and the Football Foundation, and the club hopes that Sport England will provide funding.

The games area would replace a sports pitch at Reeth, which caters only for football and cricket, and would provide facilities for other sports, including netball, basketball, tennis, bowls and five-a-side football.

The manager of the neighbouring Orchard Caravan Park and 27 caravan users have objected to the pitch because of noise and light pollution. Supporters said floodlights would not be needed in the summer - the caravan park's peak season.

Project manager Derek Pollard said organisers were determined to provide better sports facilities for local people, including pupils at Dales schools, which have been criticised by Ofsted for a lack of sports provision.