PLAYING fields across Bracknell will be out of action this weekend as persistent rain has left many waterlogged.

Football and rugby matches planned for Saturday and Sunday have been called after Bracknell Town Council 'reluctantly' decided to close the pitches and cancel any activities planned in them.

Town clerk Russel Reeve said they personally walked around the playing fields to check them and confirmed they have been closed so the grass is not ruined for future events.

He said: "We do it reluctantly because it means it becomes a fixture back log but we do it because it preserves the condition of the pitches for future. 

"We are not unique in this area, other places are also closing them off. It's not unique for this year, this happens every year and we just want to keep the number of weeks the pitches are closed to a minimum."

Read more about the affected fixtures here: http://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/sport/14185380.Local_football_round_up__Rain_ruins_fixture_list/

He added they hoped the rain would ease next week, but couldn't say for certain if sports fixtures would return to normal next weekend.