RESIDENTS near Blackburn Rovers training ground claim they are living in a "prison compound" after giant green football nets were put up behind their houses.

Blackburn Rovers Football Academy bosses in Brockhall Village are stringing the nets between 12ft steel poles at the back of The Drive to protect homes from flying footballs.

Members of Ribble Valley Council's Planning Committee were due to decide whether the nets should be pulled down.

Planning officers had recommended a retrospective application to put up the nets should be refused on the grounds they would have a seriously overbearing effect on nearby houses.

But Rovers bosses withdrew the application at the last minute and a revised plan will go before councillors in February.

They are also in talks with planners to decide what to do with the nets already put up.

More than 20 householders have complained the posts and netting are unsightly, blighting the view from their gardens and creating a "prison compound" atmosphere.

They said they were satisfied with the amicable retrieval of footballs from their gardens and should have been consulted before the nets were erected.

They are also calling for a meeting with academy bosses, councillors and planning officers to discuss the way forward.

Resident Hilary Ribchester said: "The nets are an eyesore and make our gardens look like a prison. We would like them taken down.

"The odd ball used to come in my garden, but there wasn't a huge issue. The situation was no worse than if children were playing ball."

Blackburn Rovers has argued the nets are necessary to protect residents from injury or damage to their properties.

Ribble Valley Council planning officer Colin Sharpe said: "Loss of view is not a legitimate reason for refusal of a planning application. But residents claim the nets and posts give the backs of their houses a prison-like feel and in my opinion this is a legitimate consideration.

"The other side of the matter is the quite legitimate claim of the football club that the nets are required in order to protect residents from personal injury or damage to their properties.

"It would not have been difficult for the posts to have been hinged at the bottom, so the nets could be laid flat, when not in use.

"This would have achieved the safety objectives of the club, while preserving residential amenity, and I therefore considered a recommendation of refusal appropriate."

Rovers secretary Tom Finn said today : "We have withdrawn our application and intend submitting a revised plan. Meanwhile, we will be talking to council officers to decide what to do about the nets already erected."