A WINSFORD woman says footy-mad kids have been forced off a patch of grass because council workers have repeatedly mowed it ‘like a cow field’.

Pauline Spruce said children would often use jumpers for goalposts on the Carrisbrick Drive common, but that it was now too full of divots for a decent match.

“They cut it the other day and raced around with the mower like it was Brands Hatch. It’s a disgrace. “They just don’t seem to be interested in doing it right,” said the 70-year-old.

“My kids grew up here and they played on it for years. It was so nice back then that they used to have picnics on it. It has a wooden fence around it so you know they’re safe from cars there.

“The grass gets too long now to see if any cats and dogs have been on there. If it was cut properly you’d be able to see.”

In lieu of any usable open space, Pauline said local kids play in the street instead– endangering themselves and worrying parents and neighbours.

“The kids are kicking their ball about in the cul-de-sac with cars about when they could on this great big bit of grass, if only the council cut it properly,” said Pauline.

“There’s sometimes banging if they’re playing near the houses. I don’t mind because they’re only playing and kids have got to play, but if they could still play on this big patch of grass then they wouldn’t bother anybody.”

As well as putting off kids, Pauline worried the state of the grassland was turning off potential homebuyers.

“One lady had her house up for sale but she couldn’t sell it. As soon as they saw the green they weren’t interested,” she added.

A spokesman for Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “We’ve gone out and had a look. We thank the resident for raising this with us and we are in agreement that it needs tidying up.

“We will be going out in the next couple of days to give it a cut and strim.”