The owners and tenants of a historic haunted hall near Swadlincote claim it is "plagued" by vandals, drug-taking, abusive "youths", underage drinking and defecating dogs.

Gresley Old Hall, in Church Gresley is proclaimed to be one of the most haunted venues in the UK, but issues being reported by its owners and tenants are not linked to the paranormal.

Planning documents filed to South Derbyshire District Council aim to install an extensive amount of security fencing options, including around the under-18s football pitch, indoor bowling centre, garage, containers and either side of the main site entrance.

The application, from the Gresley Old Hall Community Welfare Centre, details that the site is "plagued with vandalism, graffiti, roof-climbing, window-smashing, abusive behaviour, underage drinking and drug-taking".

It claims that "despite having cameras and involving the police, the problems increase", saying the council, police and fire service all support action and improvements which may "ease the current situation".

The application says the site owners have been "unable to control anti-social behaviour or vandalism".

It says the under-18s football pitch is "covered in dog mess" "which is a serious health hazard", with evidence of drug use and burnt patches from barbeques.

Pieces of metal are said to have been regularly placed on the whippet racetrack presenting a danger to the dogs.

Meanwhile, the Mercia Archers, who use the site, say their practice sessions are often halted by "youths deliberately crossing the range whilst shooting occurs".

The site owners say there have been several break-in attempts at the main hall along with an arson attack.

They say the garage and container area is a "favourite area for drug users" and the bowling centre fire exit doors are an "ideal target for the arsonists".

The owners also say drug dealers in cars, quad bikes, motorbikes and learner drivers frequently access the site at night.

A supporting statement from the Church Gresley Indoor Bowls Club, which operates from the site, says its members are often "confronted by gangs of youths blocking steps and doorways, sometimes not allowing us to exit".

The group writes: "They [young people] have on occasions become abusive when asked to move away.

"In the winter more gather to shelter from the cold and wet which can be very intimidating.

"Over the years we have experienced anti-social behaviour, but over the past four years the severity has increased."

It claims there have been incidents in which people have stretched a piece of cord across the access driveway, causing the cord to become caught around car wheels.

The group says: "In the last year the youths have set fire to the fire exit door. On another occasion large boxes which had contained drinks cans were set on fire against the main entrance doors.

"This has created a situation where staff and members are afraid to come to bowl and we are in danger of losing members forever."

The Derbyshire Football Association says it supports the installation of fencing to reduce the amount of damage caused to the pitches, dog mess being left on the fields and people climbing on the goalposts.

Archery GB also supports the fencing plan, saying it would hopefully "remove the anti-social behaviour or potential damage to the facility, and dog faeces being left in the area".

The venue has listed three options for fencing which it is considering installing.

Option A is to fence off the under-18s football pitch, the archery section and the whippet racetrack.

Option B is to fence off the rear of the indoor bowling centre, garage and storage container.

Option C would be for a fence either side of the entrance gates.

The district council will make a decision on the application in the next few months.

The site had been home to the old Gresley Priory, built in 1135. In 1556, Sir Christopher Alleyne used the materials left over from the former building to create the existing hall.