THREE members of Welland Parish Council handed in resignations at Wednesday night's meeting

Chairman Stran Short, Oscar Morris and Alan Hughes have all stepped down.

The new chairman is Roger Cousins of Lawn Farm, Welland, who said: "I'm very disappointed that they felt they had to resign. The council would very much like them to reconsider their positions."

The resignations follow problems with the relaying of the football pitch at Spittlefields, which was tendered to a private company. Mr Cousins said the council is now in dispute with the contractor and the stand-off has left the pitch lop-sided and without a layer of topsoil.

There have been indications that the district auditor will be approached to examine the drawing-up of the original contract.

"We've done nothing wrong that we're aware of," said Coun Cousins. "We want a full-size pitch because we've got some extremely talented young footballers in Welland. At the moment it's been left a bit lop-sided but we are going to rectify that ourselves.

"Hopefully, if we manage to get the earthworks done before the rainy season starts, we'll be able to plant it next spring."