IT'S the sport of gentlemen - the clunk of leather on willow, scattered applause and even a break for tea.

But a bitter row has blown up in one Hampshire village between parish leaders and a sports club - and protesters say it's simply not cricket.

Michelmersh and Timsbury Cricket Club have been hit for six by council bosses who want to hike pitch rental charges from £330 to a staggering £2,500 a year.

Now club bosses are hoping Michelmersh and Timsbury Parish Council will "see sense" when they meet for crunch talks next week, otherwise the warring sides could find themselves slogging it out in court.

The row, which has been rumbling on for four years, came to a head when the parish council threatened to take the club to county court.

Cricket club treasurer John Rhodes told the Daily Echo: "It's going to be quite difficult to reach an agreement before it goes to court, but we hope the parish council will see sense and not proceed with it. It's just a huge amount of money.

"It's absolutely silly for the parish council to be in dispute like this with a village organisation. Someone described it as just not cricket - and I think that fits the bill."

Player Kevin Smith added: "Any village cricket club is central to the community it serves and this is more so with M and T, with not only three adult teams but numerous junior teams. If the club cannot continue due to huge rent increases all the players will be devastated, as there is a great team spirit at the club."

But parish chairman Dr Bill Lees said the council had financially supported the club for many years with around 25 per cent of its total income.

"Most sports club members do not live here and, we are told, only pay an annual membership of £5," he said.

"By comparison, each year every household in the parish has paid an average subsidy of £10 to support the club through their council tax. This cannot be fair."

Wranglings over leases and broken promises failed to ease the stormy tensions between council and club last year.

Dr Lees and club officials are hoping to meet next week in a bid to reach an agreement.