SCORES of irate residents have hit out against plans to build homes on playing fields in Breightmet.

Home owners packed into the district's Labour Club to protest against a proposal by Barratt Homes to build 75 properties on football pitches currently owned by Wyresdale Football Club.

The meeting threatened at times to become a slanging match between members of the public and the nine-man panel made up of representatives of Bolton Council, the football club and Barratts.

Concerns over potential problems included accessing the new estate and Breightmet not having a big enough school capacity to cater for extra families who would move into the proposed development.

Annie Holt, aged 55, of Somerton Road, said: "I cannot get my car out of my drive at the moment because there is such a large volume of traffic.

"If the new estate is built, and each home has about two cars each, the area will be jammed."

Wyresdale FC say they are £28,000 in debt. They want to sell their land off Brodick Drive to Barratts and use the cash to build new facilities at Croftside at a cost of £750,000. Football chiefs claim the current pitch is often waterlogged and unplayable for much of the season. Between October and March, the club is often forced to play in Eccles.

But residents are furious and feel the new development will lead to an increase in traffic, the loss of a footpath and the removal of a large area of greenland.

Thomas Brewer, aged 76, said: "I want to know who owns the land the football club are wanting to move on to. And then I want to know why Barratts don't build houses there instead."

Representing Wyresdale was Stuart Lever, who runs Club Design Ltd, which is involved in sport relocation projects.

He said: "We have looked at the existing site and believe the best thing for the club is to move.

"The club house has a leaking roof and is in need of repair. The fact it has not been done has led to the club's loss of a liquor licence -- taking a huge slice of potential revenue.

"The bad drainage of the pitches is also a huge problem. Couple that with the fact that two pitches are not enough to allow the club to develop junior football and it is plain that there is no option but for the club to relocate."

Barratt design manager Fraser Watkins promised to create an open space with a play area as part of the home development.

The meeting was called by Breightmet Labour councillor John Byrne after hundreds of residents let it be known they were unhappy at the plans.

Don Heaton, of Bolton Council's highways department, said the local authority had traffic concerns, especially around Somerton Road, which Barratts had promised to work on.

Discussions are also being held with Bolton Wildlife Trust and English Nature about possible ecological damage caused during building work. Barratt Homes' plan includes three-storey town houses and four-bedroom detached houses.