A football team are worried that their ground looks like being bulldozed to make way for new housing.

Grove Challengers, who held a six-a-side tournament last weekend on the village's recreation ground and neighbouring Wasborough Field, say the area should not be sacrificed without permanent alternative sites being made available.

New estates are planned as part of the South East England Regional Assembly's strategy for the region. About 2,500 houses are expected to be built on the former wartime airfield between Wantage and Grove.

An acccess road will have to be built over where Grove Rugby Club currently play. It will get a new home, but the Challengers fear that their nearby facilities could be in the developers' path.

A public consultation session was held in March. A second round of talks is planned for next week at the village's Old Mill Hall.

The Challengers' Club chairman Ian Caldicott, said they had been given a 'one hour window' to discuss future recreation provision at the next round of consultations, prompting Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, to act as chairman at a special meeting.

Mr Caldicott said: "We've had no response to petitions from Persimmon Homes about our concerns, and basically it all seems like a done deal.

"We're being offered facilities at King Alfred's College and the proposed new secondary school, but we're looking for a clubhouse, astroturf pitch and a training area."

Jeff Bishop, consultation manager for Persimmon Homes, said the club and other recreational users had been invited to a meeting on Friday, July 14.

He said the possiblity of a new road was "only one of three or four options".

Mr Bishop added: "If there any moves or changes, they will get new facilities paid for by the developer."