Residents living in a quiet cul-de-sac in Yatton say they are horrified at plans to build affordable housing on fields behind their homes.

Bristol-based developer First Step Homes has put up boards on the land off Stowey Road at the rear of Stowey Park saying it wants to develop the land – which lies next to a country wildlife site – into two and three bedroom homes.

The land – which is next to the Hangstones playing fields and pavilion and is privately owned – is earmarked for recreational use.

Yatton Parish Council applied for the change of use from agricultural to recreational more than a year ago when it planned to buy the fields to expand sports activities at Hangstones.

No planning application has yet been received by North Somerset Council for development of the land.

People living in Stowey Park say the first they knew about the proposed housing development was when the signs went up.

The signs, which were put up without planning permission and are blocking a public footpath, have since been spray painted with the words – "green belt not ghetto".

The telephone number for First Step Homes has also been blanked out with black tape.

It is understood some of the homes would be available to buy, where others could be rented.

Mary Dodd, who has lived at Stowey Park with husband Keith for 13 years, said: "The first we knew about this is when the signs went up and no one really seems to know what is going on as there has not been a planning application submitted.

"It is not that we don't want affordable housing, but the village has to have the infrastructure in place to cope with it and it hasn't.

"The land in question is also low lying and floods very easily and I wouldn't have thought would be suitable to build on."

Tony Dando, 69, who lives in Stowey Park with his wife Pat, said: "I do not think there are the facilities in Yatton to cope with more homes as it is already difficult to get an appointment at the doctors."

A sign has also gone up on fields at Bishops Road in Cleeve, saying First Step Homes plans to develop there.

But again, villagers seem to know little about the detail.

Claverham parish councillor, Jean Watson, said: "We have seen the signs go up but know very little about what is planned."

A spokesman for First Step Homes said the aim was get planning permission to build two and three bedroom houses aimed at first-time buyers.

He said: "Our developments are on 'exceptions' sites which, under planning legislation, allows housing to be built and occupied by local people fulfilling a local connection criteria."