WANDERERS' head groundsman has blasted the condition of a local football pitch saying: "I wouldn't let any of my lads play on it."

Richard Norton said the pitch, off Walker Avenue, in Great Lever, is dangerous and could cause a child to be hurt.

Yet Great Lever Boys FC under-16s are due to kick off their season at the council-maintained Walker's Institute pitch and now there are fears about its suitability.

The pitch was due for repair at the end of last season and Bolton Council took the goal fames out before putting themt back damaged, with the crossbars left bent.

Grit sand has been put down in an attempt repair the worn out goalmouths when, ideally, they would have been returfed, according to Mr Norton. He said: "I wouldn't let little kids play on the pitch, it's in such a state. These are young children and the money the council spend on them is next to nothing. I know the council do not have a lot of money but, at the end of the day, these people pay ground rent.

"The pitch would no doubt cause injury to someone - I certainly wouldn't let any of my lads play on it!"

Five teams play on the pitch, all paying between £275 and £400 a season. Tony Wolstencroft, a youth worker with Great Lever Boys, said: "They have had three months to fix the problem and then do this. I can't let lads play on that, it's too dangerous.

"Our first match is on September 12 so we are running out of time. We played on that pitch all last season and intended to this season but I don't know what we'll do if the problem isn't fixed in the next week.

"We and other teams pay a lot of money to make sure the pitches are fit to play on.

"The team is a community team and keeps the lads busy with training and matches so it's very important that we can keep going."

Mr Wolstencroft and his wife Sue, also a volunteer, took their complaint to one of Cllr Prentice Howarth's advice surgeries.

A Bolton Council spokesman said the matter was being investigated.