CRICKETERS defied threats of legal action to stage a protest on land they have been banned from using.

Members of the Hussania Cricket Club, in Burnley, had a licence to use the St Andrew's ground in Basnett Street owned by Lancashire County Council for five years but in May it was revoked and they were served with an eviction notice.

Last week some residents forced the players to abandon their match by invading the pitch. There was no local match on St Andrew's yesterday, but the team turned out for a practice session to protest about the way they have been treated.

Secretary of the club Ejaz Hussain claims they are victims of political and racial discrimination, allegations denied by residents who say they have objected to the team using the field purely on safety grounds and county councillors who have championed the residents' cause.

Ejaz said the club had spent £5,000 on the pavilion and were only using a ground which has been used for cricket for more than 100 years.

Local residents claim the team has outgrown the field and said they were concerned about safety and damage to houses and vehicles which had been caused by flying cricket balls. One resident of Basnett Street who didn't want to be named said: "The pitch is too small for adults playing cricket. It is not a racial issue we would still be objecting if it was a white adult team playing. They have been offered a full-size pitch at Towneley which everyone else uses." Ejaz said the pitch at Towneley was not suitable for league games because it was an uneven surface.

He said: "We say there is no public safety matter here at all -- the ground is big enough. We have asked Lancashire County Council to get an independent assessment from Lancashire Cricket Board as to its suitability.

"We can provide score sheets to show the number sixes that have been hit and there was only one serious incident which we covered through our insurance."

He called for LCC to hold a further meeting between the club, residents the police and council officers to resolve the situation.

Ejaz said the club had suggested LCC net the area if they thought there was a danger but added: "I think the public safety issue has been exaggerated."

County Coun Terry Burns said he received about six calls about the cricketers playing but he asked residents to stay away.

He said: "I have sent letters to the residents explaining that we are trying to resolve the situation and we will meet again with the club to try to find them suitable alternative accommodation.

"If they carry on trespassing on LCC land we will have no alternative but to take legal action. We hope it won't be necessary to get a court order so they can be forcibly removed from the site. The club does a good job and we should be able to find them a more suitable site."

County Coun Burns said they were waiting for the chairman of the education and cultural services committee to return from holiday before a further meeting would be arranged and the matter would be pursued further.