A WASHING day disaster left Accrington Stanley red-faced in their first game of the new year.

Many of the players for the League Two side, including striker Paul Mullin and midfielder Andy Proctor, had to take to the field with shirts missing the sponsor's logo.

The club has now revealed that the problem was caused by a washing mix-up which saw the kits washed at too high a temperature.

The heat caused the plastic white logos, which feature the name of club sponsors - local leisure and transport company Fraser Eagle - to peel from the red shirts.

Chief executive Rob Heys said the players were forced to take to the pitch for the 2-0 home defeat by Bradford City in the shirts because the mistake was only recognised at the last minute.

But he said the problem has now been solved and pristine shirts will be available for the side's home game against Chester City today.

Mr Heys said: "There was a problem over Christmas and it has been rectified now.

"Only some of the shirts were affected because of when they were washed but it has been sorted.

"The kit manager has made sure we have more of the logos and the shirts will look right for the next match.

"The washing is done by a volunteer and a mistake was made but it is all sorted now."

Tony Duckworth, who runs the Washbowl Launderette in Blackburn Road, Accrington, has experience of washing local football team kits, and he said many modern items of clothing need extra care when washing.

He said: "Mistakes can be made, especially when garments have additions like logos and numbers on them as most football shirts do.

"The washing instructions on the items are often for the original garment and not suitable to use if there have been a lot of extras added.

"Generally I would always make sure football shirts are washed at 40 degrees and a very good quality soap is used.

"Drying can be tricky too and can cause plastics and logos to shrink and perish if the temperature is too high."