PLAYERS are threatening to leave a bowling club because of “disgusting and shameful” toilet facilities in a Blackburn park.

A burst water pipe in March had cut off water supply to the toilets in Corporation Park, affecting more than 100 bowlers.

Council bosses have apologised and said they were ‘working hard to find a cost effective’ solution.

John Flannery, chairman of the Veteran Bowling Association, said: “The ladies’ toilets are shut because of this problem and we’ve had a lot of women leave.

“The men have a urinal, but it can’t be flushed. We have to take our own water in flasks.

“Ladies are also having to use the men’s toilets, so we guard it while they’re in there.

“It’s disgusting and we feel ashamed having to do it.

“We have been promised this will be fixed, but it’s the same old excuse everytime and people are threatening to leave.

“It’s absolutely essential that we get these facilities.”

Brian Healey of the Corporation Park Supporters’ Group said it was a “lamentable failure” of the council.

He said: “The bowlers’ toilets have been without water since March and no progress seems to be being made.”

Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration and environment at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “United Utilities cut off the supply within the park due to a long-standing leak in the pipe works.

“We are working hard to find the simplest and most cost-effective way of replacing a supply to the bowling area.

“We are sorry about the inconvenience caused to the bowlers and hope to have the facilities back up and running as soon as possible.”

A spokesman for United Utilities said: “The park has a private water network maintained by the council.

“We have no responsibility for it, though we may have been asked to switch off the water supply from the mains.”