A Cricket pavilion which has provided the centrepiece to a picturesque East Dorset beauty spot for almost a century is set to be pulled down to make way for a new building.

The Bankes family formed Pamphill Cricket Club at Kingston Lacy at the turn of the last century and matches have been played on the village green on the estate ever since.

However, in recent years players have not been able to use the pavilion, originally built in 1909, as the structure has become unsafe.

For a while they had to resort to changing "au natural" until planning chiefs gave permission for them to put up a temporary changing facility.

Officers at East Dorset District Council say they are pleased the National Trust has submitted plans for a permanent building.

Assistant chief planning officer Mike Hirsh said: "We have grudgingly granted permission for the portable buildings as the site is in the green belt and a conservation area and the adjacent part of rough grass is a site of nature conservation interest.

"We did not want the situation to continue. The proposal is a very nice scheme and we would hope to get it through the system as quickly as possible."

The proposed new building is being built to mirror the way it would have looked at time it was built, complete with appropriate furnishings.

A National Trust spokesman said: "Come the 2004 season, Kingston Lacy and its cricket club will once again have a home fit for play."