RESIDENTS in Weaverham are being warned not to panic following rumours that their village playing field could be hijacked for development.

The Guardian office has been inundated with calls over the past two weeks from worried residents vowing to fight any possible proposals to build on Lakehouse Field, which is the main venue for the village's rose fete, sporting and community events.

It follows the recent sell-off of land surrounding Weaverham - much of which is greenbelt land - from chemical giant ICI to Glasgow-based developers NPL Estates, who acquired the Lostock Triangle site.

Many people fear the village-owned playing field could be used as a bargaining tool by developers, as the Local Agenda 21 document for the future of the village includes the need to improve the existing environment rather than alter the boundaries and build on the greenbelt.

But Richard Ellison, head of planning for Vale Royal Borough Council, who is also a member of the Weaverham Steering Group, said no planning application had been received by NPL.

"I can understand people being concerned and I can understand the rumours but they are absolutely not the case and we are still very far from any suggestion that land may come out of the greenbelt and be swapped around with playing fields," he said.

"People should be assured that we are not going to take this anywhere unless it's community driven and is absolutely fundamental to the community, and until it is NPL won't be able to drive this forward."

Eric Taylor, managing director of NPL Estates, said: "I wouldn't like people to get hold of a first plan and think everything suggested in it is going to happen.

"Something will happen eventually and we need to discuss with local people what that's going to be, but it's at an early stage and cannot be dealt with by rumour and speculation which isn't true."