TWENTY football teams have had to reschedule matches planned for Hyndburn Sports Centre while the astro turf is repaired.

The river side of the pitches at the Henry Street centre had to be closed on Wednesday when a trench appeared in the turf and pitches will remain closed until at least Friday, October 19.

In addition to the 20 clubs which compete in leagues on Friday and Monday nights, two matches an hour are played between 6pm and 10pm every other weeknight. Half of these will also now be cancelled.

Liz Pilkington, assistant manager at the sports centre, said: "We felt it would be better to close that half of the pitch until repairs are completed.

"If someone caught their foot in it they could break an ankle.

"As far as we are aware it has not caused any serious injuries but we were concerned that it would do if it remained open.

Team secretaries now have to ring everyone which is probably an inconvenience and costs money in telephone calls but safety is a much more important consideration."

She added that contractors would hopefully be able to repair both sides of the astro turf on Friday in order to give the pitch a new lease of life but it was a possibility that the pitch would be closed next Friday also.

Because of the cost involved in completely replacing the astro turf -- and the fact that it is now peak season -- the pitches will be repaired rather than replaced for the time being.