Householders today condemned plans for motocross meetings in a remote Shropshire village. The Market Drayton Motocross Club plans to hold five meets this year.

They will be held at Ollerton, near Eaton-on-Tern, but the plans have been met with anger from some people in the area.

Residents are worried the motorbike meets, which could attract about 200 competitors and spectators, will disturb their peace and quiet.

The club does not need planning permission for the events and members would only have to apply if they held more than 12 meets a year.

Stephanie Randall, who lives in Ollerton Lane, says all the traffic will have to come past her house to the meets, on March 25, and then on dates in May, June, August and September.

She said: “It is a narrow, windy and very muddy lane at the best of times.

“Ollerton Lane is well used by walkers, cyclists and children riding ponies. Putting all this traffic on the lane would be dangerous.”

“I live on an S-bend and there have been accidents here in the past. I really am worried that this is going to lead to more accidents.”

Other residents fear the meetings will cause noise nuisance, but the motocross club says no bikes will be able to attend the event unless they have passed safety and noise checks and are properly licensed.

The club has about 50 members and David Clemment, motocross chairman, said: “I think people will find once we hold the events that they’re not as bad as they fear. We’re officially recognised with a national motocross association and we’re doing everything by the book.”

He said they did not want to upset anyone and recognised residents’ concerns.