A community has rallied together to save a much-loved field in Newtown that has been relatively undisturbed for decades.

Residents in Maesyrhandir are angered that they had not been informed nor had the opportunity to have their say on plans to fence off a field near Cedewain School which has been used by families, children and dog walkers for more than 40 years.

They fear that more fields are being sold or redeveloped leaving few remaining green spaces for the community to enjoy.

Kelly Leah-Higgins, who lives on the estate, has told her autistic 11-year-old daughter that she will "fight it and do all I can" to save her favourite spot.

"That field means so much to her. We'd go up there to sit and watch the sunset. It’s been heartbreaking that we’ve been unable to go there," she said.

"It's affected her mental health a lot with the field going. It’s cut her deep. She loves that field."

The campaign group said it is trying to work with the owner to save the top half of the fenced off field for people to sit.

"Once these huge fields go, where are families meant to go?" Kelly asked. "It’s very sad."

Siri, a Maesyrhandir resident, said the community has gradually been "destroyed".

She said: "The community centre’s gone, the local pub’s gone, the youth centre used to be fantastic. All we’ve got left are these hills for our mental health, from getting away from stress living on a council estate, for feeling some tranquility in our lives. It’s such a valuable resource.

"Bit by bit I’ve seen it chipped away over the years. It used to be fantastic walking around here and now we’ve only got this tiny bit left. It was nothing like what it was but we want to keep the tiny bit that we’ve got left."

She added: “I’m starting to feel like it’s something about being on a council estate that we’re totally neglected.

"The local estate kids are not given the basic needs to give them a brighter future."