Threlkeld Cricket Club pitch closed amid contamination fears

The cricket pitch is unplayable until repairs are effected

There are fears there could be no more play for up to two years at a Cumbrian cricket club hit by flooding.

The wet June weather caused a culvert to overflow and deposit tons of rocks and silt across the playing field at Threlkeld Cricket Club, near Keswick.

Tests are to be carried out to see if there is lead or arsenic contamination from nearby disused mines.

The ground was once named among the loveliest in England by the cricket "bible" <link> <caption>Wisden</caption> <altText>Wisden</altText> <url href="http://www.wisden.com/" platform="highweb"/> </link> .

All the club's matches have had to be transferred to other club pitches, resulting in Threlkeld bar revenues "plummeting".

However this traditional English sport is being helped by the "sport of kings".

Carlisle Racecourse will be holding a bucket collection at Sunday afternoon's race meeting.

"Sunday's meeting has a sports theme because of the London Olympics," said Richard Clements, Carlisle Racecourse general manager, "so we thought it was appropriate to help a local sports club in need.

"We just hope it helps them along during what must be very difficult times."