A cricket team has been forced off its own field after a fleet of travellers arrived in campervans - leaving its youth side without anywhere to play.

Burgess Hill Cricket Club has been forced to look for other venues since the encampment set up last week.

The team fears damage to the crease in the centre of the pitch on Clayton Recreation Ground, near Hassocks, could take weeks to repair - potentially ruining the summer season.

Travellers have set up there despite the fact two authorised campsites are just four miles away on the other side of Burgess Hill.

Chris Riggs, who captains the fourth XI at Burgess Hill Cricket Club, said the extent of the damage will 'need to be assessed once the vehicles have left'.

He added that the disruption has been felt most keenly by the team's younger members; around half of the team are under 16, and the fourth XI is primarily a development side for emerging batsmen and bowlers.

'I feel sorry for our young players,' he said. 'They're obviously disappointed at the possibility of not being able to play.'

Around 15 caravans and motorhomes arrived at the grounds on Thursday, largely parking on the outskirts of the field. 

A caravan and a motorhome, however, chose to park on the square - one even sitting on the wicket.

The club tried to see the lighter side, joking on social media that the ground had 'more fielders on it in the deep than usual'.

It was able to find another field for its Saturday game following an appeal for a new ground to play on, the University of Brighton stepping up to offer its facilities.

The fourth XI went on to win their fixture against Palmers Cricket Club on Saturday, continuing a four-game winning streak.

Mr Riggs said he was not aware of any similar situations happening at the Clayton ground previously.

Dealing with the travellers themselves was not the club's responsibility, adding the club rents the ground from Mid Sussex District Council.

The district council, together with West Sussex County Council, says they are aware of an 'unauthorised encampment of 16 caravans', and that notice has been served to vacate the land.

A statement shared on their websites added: 'Court proceedings will follow in due course.' 

Another match is scheduled for the Clayton field on Tuesday - though Mr Riggs admits it's unlikely it will go ahead without alternative arrangements being made.

'It seems very likely that it'll jeopardise that game,' he said. 'We are currently looking for another venue.

'It is a nuisance... but ultimately, it is only a game.'

A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: 'We are aware of an unauthorised encampment on Clayton Recreation Ground, Underhill Lane, Hassocks.

'Officers have visited the site and we are supporting the West Sussex County Council as the lead agency.'

The uninvited incursion onto the Burgess Hill field comes amid a number of 'land grabs' by travelling communities over the recent Bank Holiday weekend, which see land purchased and tarmaced over without planning permission.

Communities then try to apply for retrospective permission to have the site approved - hoping they will be given the green light because of a local unmet need for caravan pitches.