VILLAGERS are appealing to a national charity for help to manage a sports ground before it falls into disrepair.

Residents of Evenwood are to ask the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) about managing Evenwood Welfare Area.

The welfare area had been home to Evenwood Town AFC, one of County Durham's oldest non-league clubs, until it moved to Spennymoor in May, changing its name to Spennymoor Town.

One of the reasons the club left the ground was because it said it did not conform to Albany Northern League standards.

The pitch is now being used by teams from two village pubs.

The welfare area is part of the Randolph Social Welfare Charity, which was established in 1944 to provide a recreation ground for village miners.

Since 1973, the Welfare Area has been managed by Evenwood and Barony Parish Council.

At a public meeting at the Travellers Rest, in Evenwood, residents heard that the council has been unable to access grants to fund any refurbishment at the ground.

Parish council chairman Stephen Hugill said if the area continued to be managed by the council it was likely to fall into further disrepair because the council could not afford the £1,500 a year running costs.

He said: "As a parish council we can't apply for grants.

"There is money out there and a board of trustees could go for these grants."

The meeting heard there were four options for the ground: to leave the situation as it is; to pass the trusteeship to a local board of trustees; to pass the trusteeship to an arms-length management company, such as the CISWO, or to close the ground.

Mr Hugill warned that becoming a trustee could involve a lot of work.

He said: "We need people to put time in so that the sports ground remains a viable opportunity to the community."

CISWO would be able to apply for grants, but would charge commercial prices for rent of the ground.

Councillors agreed to speak to the CISWO before making a decision.