CUP-WINNING Taunton Town FC's search for a site to build a new stadium has moved to land behind SCAT off Wellington Road.

A developer is believed to have offered to build a £2million ground opposite French Weir in exchange for the club's Wordsworth Drive ground, where it is keen to build houses.

Club chairman Tom Harris said negotiations were at an early stage, and the Environment Agency was worried that the land floods regularly.

Mr Harris said: "It's very early. Everything depends on the floodplain situation. The site is one of several we have looked at over eight years and nothing's come of the others. What concerns me is that I understand the land floods easily. To be honest I'd prefer a site nearer the motorway because it would be difficult to get to this one on a Saturday afternoon."

Mr Harris said the club had over the years looked at sites at Blackbrook, Langaller, Maidenbrook and South Road, among others, although all had been rejected.

Taunton, who have won the Screwfix Direct League championship for the past three seasons and triumphed in the FA Carlsberg Vase final at Wembley in May, want to go up to the Dr Martens League, which would involve improvements to their ground at Wordsworth Drive.

Taunton Deane Council confirmed that there had been an approach about the SCAT site. A spokesman said: "We'd love to help the club and we've told them, 'yes, this might be on', though there could be huge problems."

For the full story, see this week's Somerset county Gazette.