SCHOOLBOY footballers have been banned from wearing bladed boots amid concerns that they have the potential to injure opponents.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has told all schools that the boots should not be allowed, and that young soccer players should instead wear traditional studded boots.

But today Lancashire County Council insisted it had no concerns about the new-style boots, and had no plans to ban them.

Bladed football boots have become popular over the last few years after manufacturers claimed they offered better grip.

The Football Association has insisted that there is no evidence that they are more dangerous than more traditional boots.

However, reports of injuries both to players wearing them and their opponents have led to Blackburn with Darwen Council telling schools to ban them.

Coun Dave Hollings, executive member for education and lifelong learning said: "We generally advise schools not to allow blades on football boots as they can be dangerous and can damage the pitch.

"This is in line with some professional football clubs, such as Manchester United, which do not use blades."

Blackburn with Darwen Council is not alone in banning the boots.

Cumbria County Council has issued similar advice to schools, citing "a growing body of evidence that blades can cause injury to both the wearer and other players."

Injuries blamed on blades include twisting injuries caused by the increased grip blades have, while there have been reports of players being "slashed" when involved in challenges.

John Challoner, headteacher at St Bedes' High School, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn said: "We have an artificial pitch so studs and blades are not allowed but we would have concerns with pupils wearing them because of the problems raised. We follow LEA guidance."

However, a spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We are a member of several health and safety organisations and the advice we have at present is that there is no greater risk wearing them than wearing regular football boots."

In 2003, former Burnley FC striker Andy Payton called for an investigation into the safety of the new boots after an accidental clash with a rival player almost ended his career.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph columnist had to have 35 stitches after the blade on a rival's boot slashed open his leg Football manufacturers insist the boots are no more risky to opposition players than traditional studs.

A spokesman for the Football Association said: "We are aware of concerns about blades but there is no conclusive, research-based evidence to show they are any more dangerous than other boots.

"We compiled a dossier for FIFA, the world governing body, and they took the view that there was no reason to issue guidance against them."