It's a green light for football fans in Hazlemere to start a new team in the village - after the parish council pledged more than £600 to get it started.

Players aged 16 to 18 will now be able to continue playing in the area after the proposal for a new youth team was given the thumbs up by the council.

During a meeting last Tuesday members agreed the fledgling team should be given every opportunity to flourish and decided to donate £650 to the club to cover its start-up fees, which will include new kit for players.

Councillor Willie MacLeod said: "I think it's a great idea. One of the main problems we have with teenagers is hanging around. I'm all for it."

The idea to start up the team came from the players themselves, who wanted to continue competing from the age of 16. They approached John Horton - who will be managing the new squad - with their idea.

Mr Horton, from Swallow Drive, has previous experience in youth football through his involvement with Holy Trinity Juniors FC.

Speaking on Tuesday he said: "I have been involved with a lot of these boys for the last ten years. The league stops at age 16 and a lot of the boys wanted to carry on. They came to me and said we'd like to continue and I have been persuaded to carry on."

Mr Horton told the council the plans had also got backing from parents and it had been seven years since the village had a youth team.

But members did not need much persuasion and agreed unanimously to give the team the go ahead.

Mr Horton was delighted with the result and said the money was really appreciated. "We hope this will be the start of maintaining youth football in this league," he added.

The team will now play in the South Bucks Youth League on Sundays at Hazlemere recreation ground in Amersham Road.

Holy Trinity Under 14s girls squad is desperately looking for new players. Any female footballers aged 11 or older and interested in playing for the team should contact Mark Barrow on 01494 716766.