Two Oxfordshire village cricket clubs have been warned they could be prosecuted for displaying advertising hoardings.

Challow and Childrey Cricket Club, near Wantage, has received a Notice of Intended Prosecution from the Vale of White Horse District Council and Kingston Bagpuize Cricket Club, near Abingdon, has also been warned to cover up hoardings.

The Challow and Childrey club has now covered up the hoardings at its ground near the B4507, at Vicarage Hill, in East Challow.

Club chairman Peter Holt said the club could lose £1,000 a year as a result.

He is seeking talks with planning officers to find a solution. He added: "The Vale contacted us and said we were in breach of planning regulations and that the hoardings have got to come down.

"The advertising from local firms brings in about £1,000 a year, but that revenue is a lifeline for us, because all our money otherwise comes from the bar.

"On Wednesday night, more than 100 children practise at the club and it costs money to keep the club open and pay for all the equipment.

"At the moment we have black polythene bags covering up the hoardings, which makes it a bit difficult to approach our sponsors for money.

"I think we should be allowed to apply for planning permission retrospectively, but we have already been told by one of the officers that we will not get it."

The council has warned the club that it could face a maximum fine of £2,500, and £250 a day if it does not "remove or obliterate" the advertising by June 12.

In a letter, David Weaver, a planning enforcement monitoring officer, said the prosecution was being planned because the club's ground was close to the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Members of the club's committee were meeting last night to discuss the issue.

Kingston Bagpuize Cricket Club, near Abingdon, has also been told to cover up advertising hoardings, but has not yet received a warning in writing.

Chairman Paul Temple said: "We get precious little funding and if we can't display the advertising it will mean a few hundred pounds in lost revenue. We have taken them down.

"The planning officers seem to be suggesting that this is a road safety issue, but the hoardings are a good 100 yards from the A415, so I don't think they would be much of a distraction for drivers. The hoardings must have been up for the past 20 years."

Nikki Malin, a spokesman for the district council, said that planning officers had been in touch with officials of the Challow and Childrey club to discuss possible alternative arrangements.

She added: "No permission has ever been sought by the club for these advertising hoardings, so they're currently illegal and must be removed.

"If an application for advertising is made, it will be judged on two criteria, including the visual impact on the surrounding area and the impact on highway safety.

"In its current form, the advertising at the club fails on both counts, as it's clearly visible from the road and borders the North Wessex Downs."