FOR the first time in history Wigan council's grass cutters are out mowing in January. The drastic move follows the wettest autumn since records began in 1766. And waterlogged ground has forced the council to hire specialist smaller machinery, instead of using tractors, to minimise land damage.

The ground maintenance service usually cuts verges, estates and playing fields 16 times between March and October, but during 2000 they managed only 14. Above normal temperatures from September meant that grass continued to grow, making flooded soccer pitches impossible to play. Parks and countryside manager, Malcolm Russell, said: "We have staff who have worked here for over 30 years and have never seen an autumn like it. "Local soccer leagues have played less than half the number of games we would have expected by now because pitches have been under water. "If we think the situation is bad now, it could get worse when temperatures start to rise again in late February."

Paul Barton, of the maintenance force, said: "It seems strange to be cutting grass at this time of year, but it is our only option if we are to avoid major problems in the spring.

"Every effort will be made to minimise surface damage although some short term marking of the ground is inevitable.

"Where grass is long on small areas close to footpaths it will be removed."