COUNCIL workers were today praised for working around the clock to repair football pitches wrecked by vandals.

Less than a week after a four-wheel drive vehicle was driven over several of the pitches at Pleasington, Blackburn, football teams have been given the all-clear to use them again.

The pitches have also been plagued by youngsters riding quad bikes.

Council staff said last week's incident was 'the final straw' because whereas the quad riders may not have realised the damage they were doing, the car driver must have done.

It had been feared that the damage could take weeks to repair.

The vehicle had been driven around several pitches, leaving long tyre tracks in the mud.

Four football matches were cancelled, leaving nearly 100 players with nothing to do over the weekend.

But today, it was confirmed that all the games would take place this weekend after council staff went 'above and beyond the call of duty' to get the pitches into a playable condition.

The pitches have been repeatedly re-rolled to make them level again, while several layers of sand have been used to fill holes.

The pitches are used by school football teams and teams in the Blackburn Combination League.

They are the best ones in the borough, and are always in demand.

Coun Kate Hollern, executive member for leisure and culture for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "The council is committed to providing quality facilities to all residents of the borough.

"Council staff have worked very hard to restore the football pitches in time for this weekend and the people causing this mindless damage must realise that vandalism such as this is completely unacceptable.

"Staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty and I am very proud of them."

Blackburn with Darwen Council has 50 pitches, of which 11 are at Pleasington.

Some 96 teams and 1,248 players are based there.

The council has vowed to prosecute people caught vandalising pitches.