VANDALS and irresponsible dog owners have forced young cricketers to find a new place to play.

Ian Cordingley of Darwen Cricket Club is so concerned with damage caused to the cricket square at Sandy Lane, Lower Darwen, that he stopped two junior sides from using the facility.

He said: "Over the past few years we have been plagued by consistent vandalism both to the ground and the changing rooms.

"Damage is being caused, mainly by children playing soccer on the cricket square and also by people who think this area is a dog toilet." "We have senior teams still playing there in the Chorley and District League but I have already made it unavailable for the junior teams who are aged between 11 and 18.

"A lot of time and money has been wasted on trying to keep the facilities up to standard but time and time again our efforts are spoiled."

Mr Cordingley is also vice-chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Cricket Development Group.

He added: "Darwen Cricket Club's main base at Birch Hall is already overstretched. I was hoping to be able to accommodate schools in staging matches on Sandy Lane, but quite honestly I am reluctant to endanger the health of young players.

Pictured are Ian Cordingley (right) and Dave Livesey, treasurer of Lower Darwen recreation ground, surveying damage to the cricket pitch

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.