A property firm has admitted bowling househunters a googly by suggesting county cricket matches would be staged at Colchester's Abbey Field.

Taylor Woodrow has bought up 200 acres of Army land to build homes as part of the multi-million pound garrison redevelopment.

In a marketing brochure handed out at the military festival, the company sought to lure potential buyers by promising that residents in its planned 2,500 home "urban village" would be able to watch their sporting heroes at the Abbey Field recreation ground.

The brochure said: "There will be extensive children's play areas as well as the pitch for county cricket championship matches and the training ground for Colchester United."

Essex County Cricket Club said it had no plans to make its home in the town. "I don't know where this came from," a spokesman said.

When questioned, a spokesman for Taylor Woodrow admitted the wording of the brochure was misleading. "The ground there is a county standard cricket ground, but it is only used by the garrison," she said.

Published Thursday July 15, 2004

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