RAMSBOTTOM United will start the season on the road in the wake of pitch damage caused by recent flooding.

Last week's freak rain storms caused raw sewage, mixed with oil, to cover the North Western Trains League club's pitch after two manhole covers on the car park were raised by the water pressure.

But after negotiating with league top brass it has been decided that the Rams can play their first five matches of the new campaign away from home.

The new league season begins on August 14 but the first fixture at the Riverside Ground will be on Saturday, September 4.

About 40 per cent of the pitch is affected in patches spread across the whole playing area. Club secretary John Maher said: "It's been a disaster. It was bad enough for the sewage to flood the pitch but the oil mixed in has caused really bad damage.

"Our chairman Harry Williams is co-ordinating the clean-up operation and has administered a charcoal mix treatment to the pitch to limit the damage.

"Gallons and gallons of water have been sprayed on and the grass has been cut back very short on the areas where it is affected.

"It will then have a covering of soil on it and be reseeded, we just have to hope that it takes."

Bury Council environmental experts have been called in to investigate how the sewage flow became contaminated with the oil.

"Once we find out who is responsible we will be looking for compensation because this has been an expensive exercise for us," added Mr Maher.

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