A CRICKET club fears its future could be put in jeopardy because people are walking across its pitch and causing damage.

Brandon Cricket Club, part of Brandon Community Sports Club, says it is suffering damage to its square because people are using it as a shortcut.

The square, which needs careful tending, has been fouled by dogs, often has litter dropped on it and been damaged by bicycles being ridden over it.

The club says problems have got worse since a new sports surface was laid at the nearby Meadowfield Leisure Centre and it fears even more problems when Durham City Council's new offices and 'one-stop shop' are completed next to the centre.

The club is trying to raise £25,000 to fence off the site near Brandon Lane, which also includes football pitches.

Chairman and groundsman Ian Johnson said: "We have always had a little bit of a problem because there is a footpath that runs along the line of the old railway line.

"Now with these developments people are walking straight across the field," he said.

"It is only in the last two or three months it has started to get worse.

"We have had one or two bikes ridden across the cricket square, causing ruts. We have also had cricket nets destroyed. We need to strengthen the boundary fence.

"Things will get worse when the new community office opens. People take the shortest route to get from Brandon to Meadowfield.

"I think the fields will become unmaintainable if we can't do something about the boundary. What we have built up to be an excellent service will be destroyed."

The club has about 80 young members and several senior teams, and it also plans to start a women's section.

It is confident of achieving ClubMark accreditation and will take part in the NatWest CricketForce event, a weekend where members and volunteers work on improving facilities.

Mr Johnson said the club had approached Durham City Council but the council said it did not have the money to help.

However, he said the club was talking to local councillors about what help could be provided and was looking to make grant applications to organisations such as the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

"The thing is, we need someone to kickstart the project. People say we need to have some money before we can apply for grants."

A spokesman for the city council said: "We know about the concerns of the cricket club and we are working with them to get funding for a better fence. We can't stop people walking their dogs on the land."