FORMER Saints star Adam Lallana has won a planning row over a football pitch he illegally built in his Ringwood garden – despite strong opposition from his neighbours.

East Dorset District Council has allowed the England midfielder to keep the £40,000 games area in the grounds of his luxury home at Avon Castle, despite it being much taller than is legally allowed.

The 26-year-old built the Astro-turf pitch that doubles as a basketball court to have “knock abouts” with his young family.

Outraged neighbours described the development as a “monstrosity” and complained, prompting planning officials to investigate.

Mr Lallana then applied for retrospective planning permission, which was approved.

Brian Riley, 77, who has lived next door to Mr Lallana's £1.5m, five bedroom house, with wife Constance for more than 20 years, described the process as a “stitch-up”.

Mr Riley said: "The neighbours don't want it, the parish council was opposed to it and Sport England even said it shouldn't be happening.

"But regardless of that the planning panel went against their own rules and allowed this monstrosity to stay.

"It makes my blood boil. If he had put planning permission in before building it like normal people have to, he would never have got the go-ahead.”

He added: "It stinks of favouritism towards someone in the public eye with plenty of money.”

To block the pitch from view, Mr Lallana has planted a row of 12ft tall thuja trees, sparking further concerns that they will grow higher and block sun from Mr Riley's garden.

Mr Lallana moved into the house two years ago while he was playing for Southampton FC. Despite being signed by Liverpool for £25million in July, Mr Lallana has kept the home in Ringwood.

Giles Moir, development management manager at East Dorset District Council, insisted the case had been dealt with fairly.

He said: "This case has been treated as any planning enforcement case would be.

“We are able to set timeframes for people to submit retrospective planning applications in an attempt to resolve matters.

"In setting these timeframes we would try to be reasonable and agreed timeframes would always be open to negotiation and extension depending on circumstances.”