LADY bowlers say they were left feeling "ashamed of Blackburn" after being asked to carry on playing at their inconvenience!

More than 80 women from East Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and Cumbria descended on Corporation Park for the annual Florence Hargreaves Trophy.

But they were unable to spend a penny because of the "disgusting" state of the public toilets near the bowling green.

In desperation, many had to queue up to use the nearby gents.

Bowler Theresa Earnshaw said many people were incensed and embarrassed by the lack of facilities.

"The toilets were disgusting. It makes you ashamed of your town," she said. Fellow Blackburn bowler Mary Noblett was one of many to complain and has now written an angry letter to Blackburn with Darwen Council leisure director Eddie Runswick.

"There were women from all over and it was such a sad reflection of Blackburn," she said.

"The toilets were flooded, there were no lights, no locks on the door and the one toilet roll was on the wet floor.

"If it had been a private club it would have been closed down.

"The toilets should have been inspected at 9am, disinfected and put in running order. If not, they should have provided portable loos."

Mrs Eunice Burns, president of the Blackburn Ladies' Bowling League, added: "I had a lot of complaints. I believe the toilets were a disgrace but I did not see them myself."

A council spokeswoman blamed the trouble on a last-minute plumbing problem and said the toilets had been checked before the day of the event.

"There was a plumbing problem in the ladies toilets," she said. "It was a one-off incident but it was brought to our attention on the day of the tournament and the situation was rectified very quickly.

"There has also been some slight vandalism at the toilets and latches have been stolen after we had replaced them.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused to the ladies."

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