FELTHAM Football Club has defended claims its new sports facility has become a dumping ground while work remains in limbo.

Neighbouring households and businesses fear the club has abandoned plans to build seven new football pitches at Feltham Arenas, which was given the go-ahead three years ago.

But a spokesman for Feltham FC says the £1.5million scheme is a 'work in progress' that has been delayed by the recession, but will be finished within two years.

Jin Jhooti, of Orchard Avenue, in Bedfont, has been using the facility since 1974.

The 47-year-old IT consultant said: "When I first saw work being carried out I thought great, something is going to be built there and it will be really nice.

"I went back after the winter and saw it was an absolute dumping ground."

Geoff Stephens, who works at Albany Cleaning Services, in Shakespeare Road, where the arena is located, said: "The road is starting to break up where the big lorries come up and down.

"It seems like nothing is going on up there.

"It has taken far too long and it has been left in a mess."

He added: "Kids are going up there and riding around on their bikes. A lot of it has been destroyed.

"People are going up there and scrapping things. It is pretty bad."

Shakespeare Road residents have told local politicians they are disappointed with the lack of progress since the application was granted in 2007.

Club chairman Brian Barry said he is also trying to get permission for a new clubhouse at the arena, which has also slowed down the completion of the project.