RESIDENTS have called on the council to take action after flooding turned a community rugby league club's home into a 'boating lake'.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition set up amid flooding on the playing fields on Hillock Lane in Woolston.

Home to Woolston Rovers, two pitches used by the club's youngest age groups have been out of action since October due to waterlogging.

The fields have even been nicknamed the Woolston Lake by residents, with flooding often an annual occurrence.

Warrington Guardian:

Rovers' coach coordinator Peter Bowden, who set up the petition, said: "It looks more like a boating lake than a pitch – in some places, the water is about 2ft deep.

"It regularly floods like this whenever there is a spell of wet weather.

"Woolston Rovers alone have had to cancel thousands of man hours of training and matches for our junior teams over the last few years, with damage done to the children's health and fitness as a result.

"The drainage on the rest of the fields is also in a poor state and can sometimes lead to activity being cancelled because of patches of standing water.

"In my opinion, this is a tragic accident waiting to happen and needs immediate action.

Warrington Guardian:

"My worry is that one day we could see a fatality due to the depth of the water and no life saving equipment or warning signs – not to mention the associated health issues with flood waters.

"Things have really come to a head with this, enough is enough."

Labour's candidates for Rixton and Woolston in the upcoming borough council elections have also called for action.

In a joint statement, Chris Vobe, Andrew Hill and Pat Wright said: "The playing fields at Hillock Lane are a huge asset to our local community, well used by residents and sports teams alike.

"The flooding issue is now becoming a real concern for people here in Woolston – it has simply gone on for too long, which is why we need urgent intervention by the borough council.

Warrington Guardian:

"We can see the strength of feeling by the sheer number of signatures on a petition that has begun to circulate online – we have written to the chief executive to ask for a report to be commissioned on the causes and possible remedies.

"It may be that drainage works need to be commissioned.

"The council has not been as prompt as we would expect in addressing this matter, which is why we have spoken again with senior officers to expedite this.

"We are committed to finding a solution as soon as possible, and want to reassure residents that we won’t let the matter rest until the drainage issues have been properly investigated and a solution found."

Warrington Borough Council has not responded to a request for comment.

To sign the petition, click here.