A VILLAGE football team which has had to play two seasons away from home has a chance of getting its own pitch at last.

The team had to leave its pitch on a farm at Bowes, near Barnard Castle, during the foot and mouth epidemic. Since then has been trying to win approval for a new one.

The plans were held up because the team could not find an area with the 20 car parking spaces that planning officials said was needed.

The requirement has now been reduced to six spaces, which can be provided in a car park beside Bowes Village Hall. So the team, which plays in the Wensleydale League, intends to begin applying for grants to raise the £75,000 cost of a pitch.

Team manager Geoff Thwaites said yesterday: "We have had to play our home matches four miles away on the Glaxo pitch at Barnard Castle for the past two seasons, so it will be marvellous if we can get one of our own again.

"We have agreed to get the land from the parochial church council but we will need a lot of soil to flatten it out and make it suitable for games. We hope to get a large grant from the Football Foundation."

Teesdale District Council has told the club that planning consent is likely to be given for the pitch as soon as an agreement is formally signed for the six parking spaces.

Once work on the pitch is under way the club hopes to apply for consent to build changing rooms attached to the village hall.