CRICKET club bosses have branded building work that is disrupting their summer season as “a total and utter disgrace”.

Work on a new railway footbridge near Clacton’s Vista Road ground saw a temporary road put in between the pavilion and train track.

Clacton Cricket Club chairman Gary Kirk said it should have been completed in May, but has overrun and was having a huge impact on their season with a 500-metre track of mud surrounding the facilities.

The road is being removed, with completion due at the end of July.

But Mr Kirk said they were having to play alongside “a complete mud heap” at the height of the season.

“You can only imagine the mess, but importantly the terrible effect that this whole debacle has had on the club,” he said.

“We can’t train, we can’t bring in our youth section and after everything that has happened in the past, this is the last thing we needed.

“We have cancelled events, social matches and, of course, taken so much bad press from opposition teams. The club has suffered immeasurably – it’s a total and utter disgrace.”

The temporary road is 6ft wide with high fencing along its sides.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Last month’s flash flooding that affected the whole transport network delayed the safe installation of the bridge. Work to repair the grass area will start in the next couple of weeks.

"We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.”

But Mr Kirk said: “The cricket season is in force. We can’t train our Colts. Matches are being cancelled.

“We have had to put up with abuse from opposition. It’s affected us getting new players. The work may finish in two weeks, but the damage is done.”