UPTON Sports Club is facing a huge water bill resulting from an underground leak that went undetected for months under floodwater.

The leak from the pipe running beneath the Old Street playing fields took place when the fields were submerged during the floods of 2000-2001. It has led to a £2,000 demand from Severn Trent which the club says it cannot pay.

Club chairman Nick Allen said the problem was detected by a member of the public in May last year. Since then, it has been repaired by Upton-based plumber Nick Pugh and other volunteers working for free.

Mr Allen said he thought slight damage to the pipe by vandalism or a mower could have then been worsened by the floods, causing a major leak.

However, Severn Trent is refusing to accept that the usage reflected in the bill was due to a leak, despite the fact that the club would normally expect to pay just £300 a year for water.

Mr Allen said the club was trying to raise money at the moment to enhance facilities for users, which include Upton Youth Band, Upton Rugby Club and Upton Hockey Club.

"We don't need this," he said. "We make a little bit from bar sales but we just don't have that sort of money to throw about."

Mr Allen said Severn Trent claimed to have inspected the property and found no evidence of a leak. However, he said that was because it had already been repaired by volunteers working to a professional standard.

Since the leak was detected and repaired, the whole section of piping, originally used to irrigate the cricket square, has been blocked off, as the cricket pitch is currently unused.

Caroline Hosie, of Severn Trent, said the firm would need to see more information before it could grant a leakage allowance waiving the fee.