A BOWLS club dating back more than 60 years is facing closure due to the constant abuse of its green, according to its secretary.

Last year, members of the Brandon Bowls Club were forced to play most of their home matches elsewhere due to their green, behind the community hall, being too churned up to use.

It suffered damage by people playing golf and football, riding their motorcycles over it, and even driving a car on it.

The club's bowling hut also suffered from vandalism, having its windows broken so many times that they had to be permanently boarded up.

Now, with this year's season just starting, the club's problems have returned.

Its secretary, Ken Henfrey, said members had reached their wits' end.

"We've had problems for a number of years, but last year and this year have been worst," he said.

"Last year, we had to play nearly all our home games away because the green was in such a bad state, and it's started again this year.

"The council has put bollards up to stop the cars, but we still get motorbikes et cetera. We've reported it to the police but it doesn't seem to have done any good."

Mr Henfrey said the club's 30-or-so members, including the ladies team, had to rely on the goodwill of neighbouring clubs to accommodate them.

But he said unless things improved, the club's future was at risk. "It's getting to the stage where we are not going to be able to use the green again," he said.

"If this carries on, we might have to close."

Mr Henfrey believes the solution would be putting a fence around the green, but Durham City Council, which maintains it, has refused to do this.

He said: "We've come across a firm that would put a fence around for £4,495, which I think is very reasonable, but the council has still said no.

"We are applying for grants, but we haven't heard anything back yet.

"We're just completely fed up with the situation."

No-one from Durham City Council was available for comment