A Sutton school wants to use part of a neighbouring park to build new sports facilities.

Glenthorne High School wants to create an artificial pitch with led lighting on part of the Reigate Avenue Recreation Ground, also known as The Daisy Field.

The idea was first floated in 2016 when the school said it would team up with Sutton Common Rovers football club for a full-sized football pitch.

At the time, a petition in favour of the plans was backed by more than 500 people but these plans never went ahead.

Now, six years on, the school and Sutton Council are carrying out an initial survey to find out what locals think of the idea.

After this is completed it will have to submit a planning application.

The strip of land in question can be leased to the school by the council for 20 years at a time and facilities would be open to the public outside of school hours.

In a consultation document, the school claims there is a need for 3G pitches in the area.

It adds: “The school already makes use of The Daisy for team sports and athletic activities but there is still a significant shortfall of defined activity space for netball, basketball and five/seven-a-side football which this proposal will provide.

"Being a multi-use all-weather surface with focussed LED floodlighting, it will be available throughout the year for both the school and the wider public.”

The current public consultation runs until October 9 and Sutton Council said it will help it “better understand the local community’s potential use” of the recreation ground.

A council spokesperson said: “In partnership with Glenthorne High School, we are currently consulting on proposals to develop a narrow strip of land on the Reigate Avenue Recreation Ground for both community and school use.

“The proposal is to create outdoor leisure facilities available for public use out of school hours, with new sports and recreational facilities, including multi-use all-weather surfaces with LED floodlighting so that they can be used throughout the year.

"The school, which occupies a constrained site, would have access to the facilities during school hours.”