BUDLEIGH Salterton Cricket Club claims a waterlogged pitch could prevent play if the district council does not unblock the beach outfall.

BUDLEIGH Salterton Cricket Club claims a waterlogged pitch could prevent play if the district council does not unblock the beach outfall.

The club's first match has been scheduled for April 17, but as yet the groundsman has been unable to reach the waterlogged pitch.

The district council said it inspected the drain as often as it could, but was tied by tide times.

A council spokesman said council CEO Mark Williams planned to meet with the club to discuss the problems.

The spokesman said: "The cricket ground is located on a flood plain and so it is inevitable that it will be subject to becoming waterlogged at certain times regardless of any storm drain clearance work that we may carry out.