PROTESTORS accused their town's rugby club of turning an area of outstanding natural beauty into 'looking like nothing more than a detention centre' in a planning dispute.

More than 20 letters of objection and a petition signed by nearly 100 people were sent to Derwentside District Council in protest against plans by Consett Rugby Club to build a 7ft spiked fence around its fields and clubhouse.

But the club said the security measures were needed to protect its property from drug users and vandals.

A packed council meeting at Consett Civic Centre last week heard councillors acknowledge that the fields had been used by the public for generations.

But they went on to back compromise plans by the club, which has received £300,000 from National Lottery agents Sport England towards the £400,000 needed for new facilities and to establishing a centre of excellence.

The club agreed to alter plans so members of the public can still walk across the fields behind Consett Civic Centre.

Club managers also agreed to reduce the size of the fence, which will not be spiked, from over 7ft to 6ft.

At the meeting campaigner John Page said: "This tract of land has been opened to the public for as long as I can remember and is a great asset to the town.

"To fence it off for a few rugby players for a few hours a week does not make sense. It would be a legacy of shame."

Another member of the public said the rugby club grounds were an area of outstanding natural beauty and would look like a detention centre with the spiked fences.

Rugby club chairman John O'Connor said he had worked for seven years to bring first-class facilities to all the young people of Derwentside.

He said: "We counted seven used hypodermic needles one day.

"There's dog muck and we've had 12 police reports of youngsters causing damage in the few months."

Councillors agreed to the club's amended plans to allow public access across the field and noted the club's plans to reduce the size of the fence.