Villagers are being urged to stand up and fight to save a field from development.

A number of Sutton parish councillors have voiced their concerns over the future of a field which has a long tradition of use by locals.

The Alvic field may be lost to Sutton should the property development company which owns it be allowed to build houses on the site.

But now the parish council wants to take action to save the land before it's too late, and have the field designated as a village green.

If the council can prove that the land has been used by the villagers for 20 years then it could be eligible for village green status, irrespective of ownership.

However, to do this, it needs the help of the people of Sutton

Chairman Cllr Steve Morrell said: "If it was registered as a village green it would prevent building on it and render it useless to property developers.

"We need people from the village to stand up in front a magistrate to say that they have been using the land for recreational purposes for 20 years.

"But the council has had problems attracting sufficient numbers of witnesses who are willing to stand."

Cllr Steve Place added: "What the parish council desperately needs are sufficient village folk, with good memories going back over the last 20-25 years, who can say what they used the field for and when they used it.

"We want it registered as a village green and we need the people of Sutton to come forward."

The field has been used by the villagers for many activities over the years, including village sporting activities, schooling horses, dog walking, BMX riding and the annual bonfire.

Britannia Homes, which owns the land, had a planning application turned down at appeal about two years ago, but Cllr Morell said the builder was prepared to sit and wait on the prime spot for as long as it took to cash in on its investment.

And Cllr Place believes it could mark the beginning of the end for Sutton and the surrounding villages.

He said: "Alvic field is the last remaining field in the village, and that is why it's so important to us.

"It is part of a continuous belt of green that runs unbroken from the Bradford Metropolitan border right up to the Lancashire border at Cowling Moss.

"If we were to lose Alvic field then it would mean a link in the chain would be broken. It would open the way for similar developments, which would permanently scar the green open spaces.

"All the villages in between would lose their identities."

Cllr Chris Suri is also determined to fight plans to develop the land for housing. He would like to see a football pitch that would also benefit the two schools in the village.

He said: "I want to see it used as a sporting facility for Sutton, be it for the schools or the juniors at Cross Hills football club.

"I would like them to put a pitch and changing room facility there. Neither of the two schools in Sutton have a sports field. That field would be a perfect opportunity."

"It's getting people to come forward that has been difficult. Once we get those people we can push it forward."