AN international athletics referee has warned that cost cutting by Blackburn with Darwen Council could lead to the loss of a world class facility.

George Kirby said proposed shorter opening hours and private maintenance contracts could have dire consequences for Blackburn's Witton Park athletics track, if private firms and workers co-operatives could be brought in to run parks and leisure centres in Blackburn and Darwen.

The move is just one of a wide range of cost-cutting measures being considered with the aim of saving £524,400 from the sports and leisure budget in the coming year.

A special panel of councillors is being set up to look at the various options over the next six months before any final decisions are made. Among proposals is reducing grounds maintenance and keeping Witton Park's running track and all weather sports complex closed weekdays until 4pm.

Mr Kirby has been a member of the Blackburn Harriers athletics team since 1950 and is also the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's athletics correspondent.

He said: "What bothers me is the suggestion that Witton Park should be closed weekdays until 4pm.

"Ground staff during the day currently do the maintenance of the track.

"I have a fear that if ground staff weren't operating before 4pm, that sort of work might be neglected."

The Witton Park track has been the home of the Blackburn Harriers since the 1950s and has played host to a number of top athletics competitions and competitors.

It reopened following a short closure for refurbishment in 1984.

At the time, Mr Kirby wrote in the programme of Blackburn Council's continued support for the track.

But he added: "Things seem a lot different now.

"Until now they have never refused a reasonable request."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.