A Norfolk cricket club has written to residents living near its pitch to apologise over a situation involving a fence which is preventing dog walkers from walking across the meadow.

Diss Cricket Club has sent the letter to neighbours near its Rectory Meadow ground to apologise for not making them aware of its plans to close a gap in the fence, which enabled dog walkers and the public using a footpath that runs alongside Skelton Road to get access to the meadow.

Representatives from the club are due to meet with Diss town councillors tomorrow to discuss the situation with the fence and also plans to move the club's cricket nets away from horse chestnut trees.

In February, the club's chairman Martin Fairweather said the terms of the club's lease of the land from the council meant it was responsible for maintaining both the fence and a dog control order introduced by the council two or three years ago banning dogs from the meadow because it is a dedicated sports ground.

He said the club could therefore be liable if a child was to contract the disease toxocariasis, which is carried in dog faeces and can cause blindness in children.

He added a number of people had been driving up to the site and then walking their dogs across the meadow, despite the presence of the signs warning dog walking was not allowed.

'We will be looking at the fence issue. The council have been quite supportive. They appreciate it is a sensitive issue and I think before they want to take any action further they are going to have a good look at it on Friday. They just want to come and see the site now and go through it all,' Mr Fairweather said.