Three teenage boys suffered leg injuries yesterday when a wall collapsed on them at Abingdon Town's football ground as they warmed up for a cup final.

The accident happened at the Culham Road ground shortly after noon when boys from the North Oxford Youth team prepared for their Oxford Mail Boys League under-15 final against Abingdon-based St Edmunds.

Fourteen players from North Oxford Youth were holding on to the one-metre high wall by the pitch, to stretch before the kick-off, when a 45ft section collapsed.

Paramedics took the boys, aged 14 or 15, to Abingdon Hospital's minor injuries unit, and the game was abandoned.

Paul Lyon, fixtures secretary for the Oxford Mail Boys League, was at the ground when the accident happened.

He said: "The boys were holding on to the wall to perform their warm-up exercises and the combined force of 14 kids has brought it down.

"The wall landed on the legs of three of the players and the paramedics said they thought one boy had suffered two broken legs, another one broken leg, and the third less serious injuries.

"Hundreds of games are played here every season. Abingdon Town play in the Hellenic League and the ground has a safety certificate. It is inspected once a year.

"I don't think anyone is to blame for this it's just an accident."

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Ambulance Service confirmed the three boys had been taken to Abingdon Hospital. She couldn't say how serious the injuries were.

Tom Larman, chairman of Abingdon Town FC, said: "This is a shock for everyone at the club, and we are very upset. It's usually a very enjoyable day for players and their families.

"The parents of the boys who were injured were not here when the accident happened but they were contacted immediately and came straight to the ground.

"The Vale council's health and safety representative came down and said it would be OK for the other final to go ahead.

"The club's committee will carry out a review of what happened as soon as possible."

The abandoned game was one of three Oxford Mail Boys League finals taking place at the ground.