Colchester United have been accused of breaking planning rules by allowing afternoon training sessions at the new Florence Park practice ground.

The U’s have moved into the £2.5million complex in Grange Road, Tiptree after years of training at Essex University and other locations.

Neighbours who campaigned against the development claim the day the club began pre-season training in Tiptree, it was already breaking planning rules.

A condition of the planning permission granted for the facility restricts its use to morning sessions between 10.30am and 1pm, Monday to Saturday.

But neighbours say players have been seen out on the pitches well into the afternoon and have reported the sightings to Colchester Council planning enforcement officials.

Terry Shuttleworth, whose house overlooks the ground, said: “More than 30 conditions were imposed as part of Colchester United’s planning permission.

“The council has been commendably swift in launching an investigation.

“It is very important the football club is compelled to comply with conditions designed to reduce the impact of the ground on the community.

“If it behaves like this from day one, it tells me that it thinks itself above the law.”

Mr Shuttleworth’s neighbour, Ashley Byrne, 43, added: “It’s a noise nuisance. That’s why the conditions were put there in the first place.

“The minimum we would expect is for these conditions to be met.”

A council spokesman said: “It has also been reported training has been taking place outside of the hours set out in a planning condition.

“This has not been witnessed by a council officer, but will now be monitored.”

He added the council had also received complaints the training ground was in use before buildings, the car park and landscaping was completed, another breach of planning conditions.

The council has given the club until the end of next week to prove all the work has been completed.

U’s chairman Robbie Cowling, , declined to comment on the complaints..

The club’s season first pre-season friendly match will be at Heybridge Swifts, next Monday, with its League One season kicking off on Saturday, August 18.