CALLS have been made for better drainage at a Worcester park after a bowling green was flooded three times this year.

Players at the Community Bowls Club on King George V playing fields in Brickfields say the problem is costing them hundreds of pounds in maintenance costs, as well as disrupting their fixtures.

They claim flooding on the city council-owned land has become worse and more frequent in recent years as play areas and a car park have been extended.

Mervyn Pinches, the club’s president, said the green, which lies at the lowest part of the park, was like a “swimming baths” when it flooded during heavy downpours at the end of September.

He said: “It’s flooded about three times this year.

“This is worst we have known it.

“We had to hire Cripplegate Park the other Saturday because it takes a week to dry off.”

Bob Hughes, of the South Worcestershire Land Drainage Partnership – a partnership between Worcester City, Malvern Hills and Wychavon councils – said he had met members of the club and believed measures could be taken to alleviate the problem.

He said: “The property section who look after the park and area asked me to go out and meet trustees of the bowls club.

“I’ve now got to make a report back but I think there are measures that could be taken.”

However, he conceded that it was very difficult to combat flooding like the green suffered at the end of September, when there were persistent heavy downpours.