FOOTBALL pitches in Darwen could undergo a half-a-million pound overhaul if a bid to the Football Foundation is successful.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has asked the charity foundation, which is funded by the Premier League, FA and government, for cash to renovate Blacksnape playing fields.

"It also wants £180,000 in external funds to boost the cash available for the work and is hoping for £50,000 from the developers of the new Marsh House development.

Darwen councillor Fred Slater, shadow spokesman for leisure and culture, said: "The changing rooms at Blacksnape are terrible. We need to do something to improve them.

"Blacksnape is used a lot and is very popular with numerous football teams, from children's to adults."

If all the cash is secured, the work is expected to begin in 2005 and would include pitch drainage and replacement of the changing rooms to cater for 12 teams.

Coun Slater said: "There would also be remedial work to six of the pitches to make them less susceptible to the weather. This would include some wind-breakers.

"This is big news. People come from all over Darwen to play on Blacksnape so it benefits everyone. It is a facility we need to upgrade and look after."

Neil Pilkington, who runs 18 teams within the Akzo Juniors Club, said the improvement was definitely long overdue.

He said: "We have 18 teams of children who use those pitches and the first thing we need is wind-breakers because it so windy up there that the younger children are sometimes blown over.

"The drainage is poor and we have missed a lot of matches because of it. You can end up playing games two months later than the end-of-season date. The changing rooms are very old and do need upgrading. They need proper heating because when the children have been out playing in the cold and rain, it is often just as cold when they get inside. If this goes ahead it will be a great improvement."