Amid heightening speculation that Lancashire billionaire Trevor Hemmings could turn half of Ingol Golf Club into housing, Ingol Coun Bill Shannon launched a list for residents to sign objecting to the move at a Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting held at the club.

He said the petition would form the basis of a community group to fight Mr Hemmings and his group Trust Inns, which owns the site. At least 12 residents signed the sheet within minutes of the meeting ending.

He said: "We need a group of people to show our concerns – we don't want houses building on the club.

"I would like to form a group so if anything does happen we can move quickly.

"There's been no official application from Trust Inns but we all know when somebody doesn't deny anything what that tends to mean."

Coun Shannon revealed that Preston Council had sent a 'call for sites' asking land owners how land would be developed but no-one from Ingol Golf Club has come forward.

A resident, who did not wish to be named, told the Evening Post she was spoken to by a member of Mr Hemmings' staff about plans to transform nine holes of the golf club's 18 into a housing site.

Officially, Trust Inns has not confirmed or denied the speculation and has told the Evening Post that the Blackpool Tower owner is "reviewing his options".

Speculation comes a year after the business owners first sparked fears over the course's future following the scrapping of the members only club for a pay-as-you-play course.

This led to concerns that Trust Inns was looking to run down the site to allow it to push for housing.

Coun Shannon says the developer would need to change the Preston Local Plan, which names the golf course as a local amenity, before it could submitting a planning application.