A REFEREE has criticised the state of council football pitches in Burnley after he was forced to move a weekend match because he believed the pitch was too dangerous for the players.

The referee, who has asked not to be named, said the pitch at Lower Towneley was in such a bad condition that players would have been injured if Sunday's game had gone ahead.

The match was a Warburton's Junior league game involving boys aged 12 and 13.

He feared youngsters could have broken or badly sprained their ankles because of holes in the pitch.

The problem has arisen because a running track has been marked out across the football pitch, leaving deep furrows in between running lanes.

The weekend match had to be moved to a safer pitch after the referee raised concerns.

Safety at the site will now be reviewed.

The referee said: "The problems are down near the goal mouth on one of the pitches where they have put a running track down.

The furrows are over an inch deep and it is far too dangerous to play on, it would be very easy for someone to break their leg.

"I always have a look at the state of the pitch before I referee a game and on this occasion I had no choice but to tell the parents the match simply couldn't go ahead.

"Luckily, we were able to use another pitch but if that hadn't been available we would have had to cancel the match.

"This problem needs sorting out because nobody should be playing on that pitch while it is in this condition."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council, which is responsible for the pitches, said council health and safety officers will be looking into the issue.

He added: "The running track was put in for local schools to use over the summer.

"We will be going to visit the site to look at health and safety and we will make any changes that are deemed necessary to protect people using the pitch."