ONE of Britain’s oldest cricket clubs has banned players from hitting sixes — to avoid damaging neighbouring houses.

Windows, vehicles, sheds and even people have been in the firing line of big hitters in the past — with the club picking up the tab.

Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club has now told batters that if they do hit a maximum, they will get no score for it.

And if they hit a second at The Green  in Southwick, West Sussex, they will be given out.

The club’s ground, which has hosted matches since the 1790s, has a short boundary and is surrounded by homes.

Protection nets have been put up but their height is restricted by surrounding trees.

Club Treasurer Mark Broxup said the rise of the Twenty20 format has increased the number of times players now try to unleash a big slog during a match.

He added: “It makes the chance of damage to cars and vehicles almost inevitable.

“In the past, we have paid for the repairs to cars and homes but we wanted to put in place a new set of rules that would ­prevent that happening to begin with.”

The move was welcomed by Mary Gill, 80, who has lived on the boundary all her life.

She said: “Over the years, we’ve had tiles smashed off the roof, windows broken, all sorts of damage.

“The ban is a good thing.”

But another local is not so keen, saying: “For the batter, hitting the bowler for a six is part of the glory of the sport.

“To take that away removes the joy of it.

“I don’t think the rules should be tinkered with in this fashion.”