A JUNIOR rugby league club claims it is being squeezed out of facilities at Barnoldswick's Rolls-Royce sports grounds.

A delegation of young players and members of the West Craven Warriors' management committee attended the latest meeting of Pendle Council's West Craven committee.

Alison Brewer, speaking on behalf of the club, said it paid around £60 a month to use a pitch at the Roll-Royce grounds, on Skipton Road, but had been unable to use it for much of the season due to waterlogging.

She added that football teams from outside the area were being brought in and given preference.

"We have really put Craven on the map in terms of rugby and now we're looking for some help from you," Mrs Brewer told the councillors.

"We go all over Lancashire and Yorkshire and the facilities that some of the other clubs have are fantastic."

Danny Carlos, captain of the Warriors' under-11s squad and a player for six years, added: "We all want to play rugby, not wander round the streets doing nothing."

However, Tony Bradshaw, from Rolls-Royce Leisure, said it was nonsense that the Warriors weren't welcome at the Rolls-Royce sports ground. He said he would much rather have a sports club from the town using the facilities than clubs from elsewhere.

He added that the Warriors were given first refusal to use the facilities for Saturday matches, but because they couldn't guarantee a Saturday team he had been forced to go elsewhere to generate income.

Mr Bradshaw stressed that Rolls-Royce Leisure receives no money from Rolls-Royce Plc and must generate its own income to remain in business.

"We have had problems with flooding and waterlogging, but we've just spent over £1,000 to improve drainage on the pitch," he said. "It is a business and we have to generate income.

"The West Craven Warriors were given first refusal to use the pitch regularly on a Saturday, but they couldn't give that guarantee and I can't have it standing idle when there are other teams queuing up to use it."

Mr Bradshaw said two football teams would use the pitch on alternate Saturdays next season, but it was only a one season deal and if the Warriors could guarantee Saturday use the following season then they would still have first refusal on the pitch.

"As far as I'm concerned they are the resident team and they get preference," he said, adding that they paid less than out-of-town teams.

After the Warriors raised their concerns at the council meeting, Coun David Whipp suggested a meeting between all concerned parties to find a short-term solution.

"In the long term we are looking at redeveloping Victory Park, but that could be a few years off yet and some of these lads might not be playing for the under-18s by then, never mind the under-11s. We need to look at what we can do for the club in the short-term," said Coun Whipp.