Football clubs feeling the pinch after a disastrous winter for matches will get some of their cash back - but not yet.

Several clubs have called on Castle Point Council for a refund of their hire fees because 11 out of 18 sporting weekends had to be cancelled because of flooding.

Many of the smaller clubs rely on weekly subscriptions to balance the books but while council bosses have agreed to give back £8,000 - or 25 per cent of the annual income - it will only come as a cut in hire fees next season.

The call for a refund comes only weeks after council bosses agreed plans to balance their own budget for the first time in a decade - an extra £8,000 to find would have put paid to that.

Now the bill has been put back to next year, despite calls for a rethink by the chairman of Castle Point Sports Council Brian Penn at last night's council leisure and amenities committee.

Council leader Dave Wells was keen to point out the council was still doing what it could for local clubs.

He said: "We don't need to give a refund but we are supporting our local clubs."

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