COACHES at Vale Royal Athletics Club say Vale Royal Borough Council has gone back on its word over the location of a storage container.

Young athletes decided they would raise the £1,500 needed to buy the container themselves and the club was assured by the council that it would be able to place it at the side of the running track at Knights Grange.

The container has now been bought following a huge fundraising effort but the club says the council has backtracked, saying the club cannot locate it next to the track. Coach Shaun McGrath said: "We walked up Snowdon in horrendous conditions, held a raffle and packed bags at Asda to raise this money and for the council to turn round and say we can't put it where we want is extremely frustrating.

"We were told by the council before we started the fundraising that we could have it by the side of the track and now we have it they're saying we can't."

The borough council has looked into the possibility of installing the container at another location at Knights Grange but so far an acceptable area has not been found.

Shaun said: "The whole point of having the storage container next to the track is so that we don't have to carry equipment like hurdles a long way.

"If you go to other sports grounds it is common practice to have at least one of these containers next to the track.

"The kids can see the funny side because I don't think they can believe that a council can act in this way."

The container is now located near to the cricket club car park and borough councillor Des Worthington is hoping the situation can be resolved.

He said: "This is not the position where their container should have been sited.

"I have been informed that if the athletics club requires another site they will need to submit a planning amendment.

"Richard Hallows, Vale Royal Borough Council's director of social and community services said he will address the problem to make sure the container is sited at the correct location."