Hundreds of residents have taken to the streets in protest against plans to restrict access to a North Staffordshire playing field, restricting long-standing public access.

College Fields in Madeley has been used by generations of locals.

Late last year Madeley Parish Council were informed that a continuous boundary fence would need to be installed around the detached field, which is leased to Madeley School by Staffordshire County Council. Residents say the field has been used continuously for more than 30 years.

On Saturday morning hundreds of residents walked through Madeley and on to fields. Protestors were seen carrying placards saying 'save our village green' and 'College Fields belongs to Madeley'.

This comes as local MP Adam Jogee submitted a petition to parliament, which has been signed more than 1000 times.

The petition urges the government to encourage Staffordshire County Council to commit to protecting College Fields and to rule out fencing or other measures that would restrict public access.

He said: "College Fields has been part of village life in Madeley for generations. When local residents raised concerns with me about the possibility of fencing and reduced access, it was clear how much the site means to people.

"Communities deserve to be properly consulted about decisions that affect the spaces they rely on. I'm grateful to everyone who signed the petition, and I have now formally presented their concerns to Parliament.

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"I will continue to work with residents, Madeley Parish Council and others to ensure that decisions about College Fields are made openly, transparently and with the community at the heart of the process."

In 2022 Madeley Parish Council applied for the land to be registered as a town or village green. If approved, the designation would protect the land from development and preserve public recreational use.

The application has been objected to by Staffordshire County Council and the school.

In a previous statement on the issue Staffordshire County Council said the land needs to be secure to meet safeguarding standards.

Janet Higgins, Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education: "The land at College Fields is part of the school, so it has to stay available for teaching, sport and play, and must be kept secure to meet national safeguarding and Department for Education rules.

"Both the Council and the Academy have objected to the village green application because, if it were approved, the land could no longer be used for education.

"That would go against our legal responsibilities as landowner and the Academy's duties as the leaseholder. We have met with members of the Parish Council to explain our position."