YOUNG footballers in Oswaldtwistle have been assured that their season is not over after fire destroyed their changing rooms.

The suspected arson attack happened at the Harvey Street pavilion, which players use as a changing facility for matches at the Foxhill Bank pitches.

Dozens of teams across four separate leagues use the pitches and the pavilion. They are all busily attempting to organise matches at other sites to keep their seasons going.

One of the leagues which uses the land, owned by Hyndburn Borough Council, is the Training 2000 Accrington and District Junior Football League, which has teams from under-nines to under-16s.

League secretary Alan Greenwood said the teams in his league will now play their matches at Witton Park, in Blackburn, until at least the end of the season in May.

He said: "This fire has cost the clubs a lot of money because they will have extra travelling costs.

"If this fire was deliberate, whoever started it is bound to know someone who plays on those pitches.

"We will be playing matches at Witton Park for the foreseeable future."

The Hyndburn and District Boys' League also uses the Foxhill Bank pitches.

Secretary Andrea Hughes said it has already been able to re-jig fixtures.

She added: "The groundsman at Hyndburn Council has been very helpful, and the impact of the fire shouldn't be too big for our teams."

Hyndburn councillor Brian Walmsley said he hopes to have temporary changing facilities installed at the pitches by the start of next season in August.

He said: "It is too early to say exactly what we can do, but something has to be done sooner, rather than later.

"There are so many people who use the pitches and it is very important to rectify the situation."

Lancashire Police are treating the fire as suspicious. Anyone with information about the fire, at 8.15pm on Tuesday, is asked to call Accrington Police on 01254 51212, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.