Kington Cricket Club are appealing to Lord's after a shock decision this week barred promotion to one of the elite leagues in the country.

The runaway Worcestershire County League Division 1 champions were expected to get the green light to compete next season in Division 2 (West) of the Birmingham League as part of a pyramid system.

But, after a tied vote, the Birmingham League management board denied entry to the former National Village champions.

The board were unhappy that the Herefordshire club's pitch at the town Recreation Ground would not be available for two separate Saturdays in the season - two separate Kington shows are held on those days.

Kington captain Kevin Gwynne, who led the side to a record-breaking league triumph, said: "I am very disappointed but a few of us had a gut feeling about what was going to happen.

"We are now in a situation where, for instance, if we keep winning this league no other team from it will ever progress. If we are in a pyramid system where we cannot ourselves progress, there's little point in playing. It makes a mockery of the whole pyramid system and the feeder leagues."

Club stalwart Gwynne confirmed Kington would appeal against the decision, with the backing of the Herefordshire Board, Worcester-shire Board and Worcestershire League.

Following the board meeting, a Birmingham League statement said: "Kington's application was turned down because of the unavailability of their ground on two occasions next season. The board was unwilling to sanction use of an alternative ground for second XI matches, even if the fixtures could have arranged to accommodate this problem."

Worcestershire County League spokesman Alan Bayley said: "I came home from the board meeting and just could not believe it. A number of points were brought up which I thought were answered perfectly satisfactorily. From a Herefordshire point of view and, as a feeder league into an ECB Premier League, this is a landmark decision."

Bayley added: "All Kington are asking is that they have two dates in the whole season when their 1st Xl are scheduled to be away from home that day and the 2nd Xl could either play on the 3rd Xl ground, or hire another of an equal standard."

Herefordshire Board chairman Nick Nenadich said: "Kington have won their league emphatically and should now move up the ladder. I am bitterly disappointed, and will be giving them my full support."

Gwynne said: "Our promotion would have helped to improve Herefordshire cricket as a whole. This decision has stopped that in its tracks."