The chairman of a club has apologised after erecting a marquee on a playing field without planning permission.

The Frenford Club erected the marquee last week on a pitch at Oakfield Playing Fields, in Fencepiece Road, Barkingside, for several events over the summer.

Redbridge Council issued a warning to the club, stating the club was in breach of its lease, and later ordered construction to stop.

However the club stated last week that the marquee was staying in place for “test” purposes.

The club’s chairman, Nicholas Hurst, has now issued an apology to the council and has agreed to move the marquee.

He said: “We made a mistake with the information we received, and have apologised to the council officers. 

“We have agreed to move it to a less obvious position on the same site, and the council have accepted, subject to planning consent.”

A council spokesman said: “Redbridge Council firmly denies the claim that any kind of approval has been given to move the marquee to another space on the site. We are adamant that the structure must come down immediately.”