Public park footballers limbering up for the 'big kick-off' at Harold Hill this autumn may be in for a shock.

Pitches due to reopen a year ago at Central Park may still not be ready for the start of the new season, after a Thames Water project to dig them up and lay new sewers fell behind schedule.

Now the current state of non-play has been denounced by former Harold Hill councillor and Havering Sports Council executive member, Dennis Cook, who said: "The pitches are terrible."

Havering Council, who promised a perfect reinstatement of the pitches and an autumn kick-off, says it understands residents' concerns.

A senior Havering parks officer admitted: "We have a lot of work to do."

Mr Cook, who has already voiced his concerns at the sports council, said: "The pitches are not even half as good as before.

"One pitch has an artificial lake - where there wasn't one before! The water authority promised us state-of-the-art new drains."

Mr Cook, who used to represent Hilldene ward, says it is not just the pitches which are a problem. The park road and pavements, he feels, could be unsafe.

Some of the roads had to be dug up for the drainage works and relaid. Vehicles have now made great ruts which flood and freeze in winter.

Mr Cook is also concerned that pavements dug up by the water authority have been covered with corrugated iron to form temporary paths, making it difficult for mothers with prams to negotiate.

Cllr Margaret Latham, chair of Havering Council community services said: "We appreciate the concerns raised. We work closely with the Sports Council.

"Our staff regularly attend the meeting to hear their views, offer support and address issues raised including the facilities at Central Park.

"We have two pitches at the park and intend to use one for mini soccer which U10s now have to play.

"This will probably mean adapting one to accommodate two smaller pitches depending on demand.

"It's understood that the pitches were drained as part of the reinstatement of the site following work by Thames Water.

"It normally takes a while for the drainage to settle and we are carrying out work to encourage this by using special draining techniques as we do with many other sites at this time of the year.

"We are satisfied the roads and pavements are safe as we have an ongoing programme of repairs there."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.