FLINT & Cook Marches League Division 1 side Wellington have been hit with a heavy penalty after complaints about their pitch.

The villagers are to be barred from playing any further matches on home territory this season and have had the points gained from two home wins removed. They have also been hit with a 40-point deduction and future scheduled home games will still count as a divisor in calculating their average.

"The square has been inspected and is now in very poor condition and in the opinion of the executive committee unfit for Marches League cricket," said league secretary Derrick Jones.

The two sides, Burghill & Tillington and Wormelow, who were defeated at Wellington earlier in the season will have the results voided and so will not count against their average.

Last season, Wellington played their home games at Pencombe but the league management committee have made it plain that, while games could be played there or elsewhere, they will not be played under the Marches League banner or have official umpires supplied.