CONCERNS have been raised that a junior football club which helps to keep youngsters off the streets of Kempsey will not be able to play on a new training ground this summer.

Kempsey Colts players and coaches said they are desperate to move to Normoor Common, Kerswell Green, south of the village because the club, which began life with a single coach and 10 children more than four years ago, has become so big it now caters for more than 100 youngsters.

The new ground would be used for 11-aside and mini-soccer if plans get the go-ahead.

Speaking at Monday night's Kempsey Parish Council meeting, coach Mike Devereux, of Squires Walk, Kempsey, said: "We have got 100 children and the majority of them are aged between seven and 15.

"Kempsey Colts is trying to do something for the village and we need to try to push something forward, otherwise we are not going to have something for the summer."

We previously reported in your Worcester News how the club is hoping to move from its current ground at Plovers Rise in Kempsey in a bid to avoid timetable clashes with the cricket club.

Councillor John Michael, who is commons and hams committee chairman, said since the last meeting the parish council had made inquiries about the club using Kempsey Primary School's playing fields because they had some minor concerns the common land would be "a bit bumpy" for football, but Mr Devereux said the school's facilities were too small for the club.

Kempsey Colts Football Club, which is affiliated to the Worcester Football Association, is self-financing and plans to pay for any work to level the new pitch itself.

Mr Michael said they supported Kempsey Colts' move but said he needed to make inquiries with Worcestershire Wildlife Trust to see if it was acceptable for the club to use Normoor Common from an environmental perspective.