YOUNG cricketers had to flee the field when a sniper opened fire during a junior league match. Greenmount Under 18s were in the field in their match at Farnworth when shots were fired across the ground.

Mr Derek Kay, co-manager of the team, was not at Monday night's match, but heard a full report hours afterwards. "Apparently one of our lads was just about to bowl when he heard a noise," said Mr Kay. "He kept hearing it for the next two or three balls, and eventually turned round to see some idiot hanging out of a nearby window with an airgun."

Officials at the Farnworth ground immediately rang the police, who ordered the pitch to be evacuated.

"Nobody was hit, and we don't even know if the lad was just firing the rifle with no pellets in it," said Mr Kay.

Police attended and apprehended the culprit. The game came to its abrupt halt at around 8.30pm on Monday.

Mr Kay said the incident had been reported to the league, and they were "leaving it in their hands".

"Obviously Farnworth can't help it if some idiot leans out of a window taking pot-shots at the players," he said. Police in Farnworth said they were still investigating the incident.

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