A BOLTON amateur soccer referee has branded a local pitch as "dangerous".

Class One ref Duncan Willetts is furious over the state of a council run pitch at Church Road opposite Moss Bank Park.

After officiating a Lancashire Amateur League match he described the pitch as a disgrace and complained it put players' safety at risk.

He said: "The pitch was full of ruts at one end and one half was very dangerous."

As a referee Duncan's major concern is the safety of players but he is also concerned that his own standing as a referee could be affected if he has to officiate on such poor pitches.

The condition of amateur soccer pitches has been continually debated in the local soccer scene for some years.

Mowing begins as soon as the weather permits which this season turned out to be the end of March and the only rolling of pitches takes place in autumn unless it is specifically requested to have a spring rolling.