Flood water link to mystery rash

Left to right, Alex Cockburn (9) from the Dobcross team, Micheal Rigby (9) from the Delph and Denshaw team, and James Rice (8) from the Uppermill team standing on the water-loged pitch at the churchill playing fields, Greenfield. Both the rugby and the netball tournaments were called off due to bad weather.

Water on flooded playing fields in Greenfield could be contaminated, Saddleworth Olympic organisers fear.

Some youngsters who played rugby in the run up to the Saddleworth Olympics at the weekend complained of mystery rashes on their skin.

Urgent checks are expected to be made by Oldham Council’s Environmental Health Department as to the nature of the contamination on Churchill Playing Fields.

Olympic chairman Ben Hilton said: “Concerns were raised with me on Saturday morning about a stagnant area of water in the middle of the rugby pitch.

“I have had a look at this area and the water did not smell too good. It seemed to me that it was stagnant.

“There was also a sort of oily, diesel type stuff on the surface.

Action

“We will continue to use Churchill but well away from this particular area.”

Saddleworth Rotary Club fired an angry salvo at Oldham Council over flooding problems at Churchill.

Twelve months ago, Saddleworth Summer Show, organised by the Rotary Club was called off because of flooding and waterlogged conditions.

Now, after rotary members carried out their own inspections at the site, the club has written to Oldham Council demanding action over the on-going problems.

Robert Knotts, vice president, said: “The council cancelled the show last year, citing the waterlogged state of the fields.

“Then our own inspection showed drainage was unable to cope with water and was blocked with silt.

“Now with cancellations at the Saddleworth Olympics, our members recently inspected the fields to find silt still clogging the drainage system.”

A spokesman for Oldham Council said: “Unfortunately, this year has seen record levels of rainfall.

“This excessive rainfall has resulted in the field reaching capacity and unable to absorb any more.

“However this is the second year where excessive rain has fallen during the summer period making it extremely difficult to carry out routine maintenance without adding to the problems.”

There are high hopes that Saddleworth School can be used more fully in coming years after a successful junior rounders event on the all-weather pitch on Sunday.