THE East Lancashire League competition could be forced to extend their 2015-16 campaign if there is no significant improvement in the winter onslaught.

Last month saw the East Lancs programme virtually wiped out, with just three fixtures surviving the flooding in December.

All the games scheduled for December 5 and 12 were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

And just three games - at Barrowford Celtic, Langho and the second X1 fixture between Feniscowles and Pleasington and Burnley Athletic - went ahead on the final weekend before Xmas.

Enfield, in the First Division, have played just six times this term, while Newchurch, in the division below, are also facing a significant fixture back log having completed the same number of fixtures.

East Lancs League secretary Pete Hargreaves said: “We are playing it by ear at the moment, and just hoping for a break in the weather.

“December was a very bad one, but we’ve faced this situation before and we’ve managed in the past.

“Most of the clubs have their own grounds, but some play on the Nelson and Pendle council pitches, and they close for football at Easter for cricket, so that is a concern.

“We don’t have as many teams as we did in the past, but we need to get going again quickly and hopefully we will able to run a full programme this weekend.

“The forecast is a little drier so we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed.”

Leaders Mill Hill, six points clear at the summit of the First Division, will be looking to strengthen their advantage when they take on strugglers Langho at the Ryddings on Saturday.