Tiddington Cricket Club have been hit for six by the foot and mouth outbreak - with the epidemic leaving them unable to reclaim balls which are smashed into adjacent fields.

The spread of the disease has left the Oxford Times Cherwell League Division 2 club temporarily unable to hop over the fence and get the ball back during matches.

Club press officer Ray Manning explained that they had fallen into line with restrictions on footpaths on the land.

He added: "Personally, I don't feel it is too much of a hassle. If the ball goes out of shape you find one of the same shape and continue.

"We are only talking about a temporary thing. We can tell the farmers where the balls are and get them back after a match, so it is not a desperate problem.

"We are close to the farmers and need to respect the restrictions that are going on."

It means Tiddington face the prospect of using more balls than most clubs.

To help ease the situation, the league have given Tiddington permission to use replacement balls which are not of the approved variety.

Sandford St Martin have also been affected by the foot and mouth outbreak, but they have now been given permission to play on their ground - although access may be limited.

Dinton are another Cherwell club to be hit by the disease.

RAF Halton has been declared out of bounds for the Buckinghamshire club's 3rd XI home games in Division 9, and they will instead use nearby Cuddington.