SHEPPEY Sunday Football League secretary Andrew Bolton has hit out at Swale Borough Council for putting in "absolute minimum effort" into grass roots soccer.

In his annual report, Mr Bolton has criticised the lack of basic facilities and the council's apathy regarding a sport in which thousands of people in the area are involved.

He said: "The local council does not help the situation with the poor and even lack of basic facilities at grounds, the poor quality of pitches and the absolute minimum of effort put in by the contractors employed by the council and the alleged monitoring of these contractors.

"The council are currently involved in the preparation of a skate-boarding centre for the use of 100 or so youngsters, of which I have no objection. Yet they cannot make the effort to do minimal work like rolling the pitch at Castlemere Avenue for a sport which thousands are involved in."

In response Graeme Tuff, the council's landscape officer for parks, open spaces and sports pitches, said: "The council is aware of the difficulties sometimes experienced by its customers.

"Pitches are maintained to the specification required and to the best abilities of our contractors and regular inspections are carried out by council staff.

"Weather and ground conditions sometimes prevent maintenance operations from taking place during the playing season but it is the council's desire to provide the best facilities it can within the budgetary constraints."