VILLAGE cricketers in the New Forest are set to be bowled a bouncer by National Park Authority officials.

The long-established and highly successful Hyde Cricket Club wants to expand its 10-year-old pavilion on the village common with a lean-to extension to provide extra storage space for equipment.

And the club has the backing of Hyde Parish Council, which supports the modest extension as an improvement to the facilities. Yet National Park Authority members are being recommended to refuse consent when the club's application comes before the planning control panel today.

In her report to the committee, case officer Liz Young conceded that the proposed extension was in keeping with the area and the existing pavilion, would not affect neighbouring properties and there had been no objections from the public.

But she ruled the extension was a threat to the local ecology, encroaching on land designated as part of the New Forest site of special scientific interest and harming the special nature conservation value of the land without providing any additional recreational activity.