A JUNIOR football league is considering banning bladed football boots amid growing concern about the injuries they can cause.

Executive committee members of Accrington and District Junior League, which includes teams from Ribble Valley, Pendle, and Darwen, will discuss a ban at their monthly meeting next week.

The move comes less than a month after Blackburn with Darwen Council wrote to schools instructing them to ban bladed boots from PE lessons and schoolboy matches.

The boots have become popular after manufacturers claimed they offered better grip.

But slash-type injuries caused by the blades, such as the one suffered by ex-Burnley striker Andy Payton in 2003, have prompted concern about whether they are more dangerous than traditional studded boots.

Padiham-based Mr Payton's leg was slashed open in a challenge with a player wearing the bladed boots.

There are also worries that the extra grip blades give can cause pull, or sprain, injuries if a player tries to turn quickly.

League secretary Alan Greenwood said: "There was some concern expressed by parents before Christmas about whether to buy the boots. We are meeting next week to decide whether to ban the bladed boots, from a child safety point of view, from next season.

"It would be unfair to ban them sooner because, in many cases, parents have only just bought them."

Andrea Hughes, secretary of Hyndburn and District Junior League, which also includes teams from across East Lancashire, said: "We are aware of the concerns, but have no plans to ban them. That is based on advice from the Lancashire Football Association and the Football Association. We will discuss the issue at our February meeting."

Coun Dave Smith, executive member for culture, leisure and sport at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "Our advice to schools is not to allow the bladed boots. We don't allow them on our Astroturf pitches, but we don't allow studs either."