The great Crown Green revolt: Furious bowlers use an angle grinder to SAW through metal barrier erected by new landlord who demanded £5 fee to play at their own club

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A group of bowlers fenced off from the green that has been used by the community since 1905 have cut an 8ft-wide gap in the metal barrier to reclaim the lawn.

Players were left disgruntled after new landlord Stuart Smith erected a spiked steel fence around the bowling green at Newsome Tap, formerly Newsome WMC, Huddersfield, West Yorks, with the plan of charging them £5 a time to play. 

Deciding to take matters into their own hands, a huge cheer went up on Saturday morning when thirty bowlers, including Robert Fitzgerald, cut a massive hole in the barricade. They then made their way on to the green and entered the clubhouse.

Newsome bowler Robert Fitzgerald cuts away at the bolts to remove fencing around the bowling green

Players were left disgruntled after new landlord Stuart Smith erected a steel fence around their bowling green at Newsome Tap, formerly Newsome WMC, Huddersfield, West Yorks

Protesters line up with placards and signs outside the former Newsome WMC in Newsome, Yorkshire 

Bowlers, pictured from left, Eileen Bottomley, Valarie Kenny and Suzanne Wright, are seen celebrating on the green before enjoying a game 

Newsome Green councillor Andrew Cooper said: 'The bowlers have been bowling here since 1905 and have been denied access to their own green.

'At their meeting on Tuesday it was decided that they would regain access and they have now done so.

'The important thing here is that the ownership of the land is in dispute and the bowling club's solicitors have outlined why they think they have a strong claim to this land to Stuart Smith's solicitors and the liquidator's both of whom have not responded.

'They firmly believe that this is a separate entity from the WMC and say it should never have been included as part of the liquidation package.'

Businessman Stuart Smith put up the railings after buying a two-year option on the land of a former working men's club earlier this year

Jacqueline Sullivan, secretary of Newsome Community, Sports and Bowling Club and groundskeeper Barry Sullivan, which is at the centre of an access dispute with landlord Stuart Smith 

The bowling green has been used by the community since 1905 and players feel disgruntled about paying a fee to use it 

Bowlers are pictured enjoying the green at a happier time before the legal dispute began 

Cllr Cooper added: 'It is really up to Stuart Smith now to engage with the legal process. There is a real desire to see that this is sorted out in a legal manner.

'Obviously we told the police that this was going to happen and they regard it as a civil matter.'

Businessman Stuart Smith put up the railings after buying a two-year option on the land of a former working men's club earlier this year. 

Mr Smith said that he had offered bowlers the chance to pay to go on the green saying they could pay £5 each time. The offer came with either a couple of pints or soup and a sandwich. 

Mr Smith said: 'I said I would give the bowlers to the end of the bowling season and I have honoured that commitment. What has happened here is criminal damage and I shall speak with the police.'

He added: 'They have unsecured the site, it is private property, it has never been a community bowling green. They have tried to register is as a community asset behind the receiver's back. 

'They have no right to be here. It is mine and I have all the documentation here.' 

The historic bowling green in Newsome, West Yorkshire whose ownership is disputed by Stuart Smith

A group of bowlers fenced off from the green they have been playing on since 1905 have sawed an eight foot wide gap in the metal barrier to enjoy a game