HOCKEY players have been forced off their pitch because it is covered with seagull droppings.

They have been warned it could take six weeks to safely remove the droppings from the astroturf at the Highland Hockey Club, in Inverness.

“The pitch is in a really terrible mess. There is a seagull’s nest nearby and they have absolutely covered it in poo,” said club spokesman Alistair Todd.

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It has already been closed for a fortnight and Mr Todd is concerned it will not be open in time for the start of training next week.

“I know it has to be safe and I want the work to be done properly but I don’t understand why it is taking so long,” he said. 

Mr Todd said: “Our four teams are doing really well at the moment, our men’s second team won their league last season, so I don’t want to lose momentum and see the teams slipping because they can’t train.”

The pitch is the only one in Inverness suitable for hockey and was closed last autumn after flooding problems made it too dangerous.

It sparked fears about the club’s future as travelling costs for training and games mounted.

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But Mr Todd pointed out how dangerous playing on a pitch covered in seagull mess was, and called on High Life Highland to install bird deterrents to prevent a vengeful return.

“The poo is very slippy, which is dangerous in itself, but if someone was to fall and land in it they could pick up all sorts of infections. It is not safe at all,” he said.

“There is no point in cleaning it if they don’t put anything in to keep the wildlife away. They need to put measures in place to keep in playable.

“If they had done that in the first place, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

A spokesman for High Life Highland, which runs the facilities, said: “The surface has become unplayable due to the number of seagulls that have taken up residence in this area of Bught Park.

“Bird scaring equipment has been ordered in an attempt to solve the problem. 

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“The installation is scheduled to take place within the next 10 days, following which a deep clean will take place and the pitch will be available as nor