Moorside Primary School in Bowerham erected the gate and new fencing in conjunction with Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council during work to create a cycle path.

Headteacher Len Guest said there had been dog mess on the field, which is used for PE.

But residents who used to walk through the field at the back of Ascot Close have been angered by the installation of the gate.

One, Janine Bebbington, has posted a protest video on YouTube featuring her dog Prudence.

She said residents could still access the field from Barton Road but that the gate meant they were now unable to leave on the other side.
"That's the frustrating thing," she said. "A lot of people are twitchy about this saying they liked walking through this field because it's a pretty place and you feel like you're in the countryside.

"I refute what they are saying about dog fouling because I think people are responsible on there and police it themselves. Every now and again one of the residents even sorts out a group of people to do a litter pick and keep it tidy."

Miss Bebbington also raised concerns over the safety of the gate.
"There are kids there at night playing, that's what fields should be for, but I've seen them climb over that gate and someone's going to get hurt.

But Mr Guest said the school was simply replacing a fence which had fallen into disrepair and a gate which had disappeared over time.
"It is appropriate for dogs to be on a school field, often we've been unable to use it because of what a minority of dog walkers leave," he said.

* You can see Miss Bebbington's protest at www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZxkR0ifrC0