CUP competitions may be cancelled and teams asked to play extra games on Sundays.

These are two suggestions which will be considered by the Westmorland League's executive to combat the crisis caused by the decimation of the league programme so far this winter.

Snow and freezing temperatures completely wiped out last weekend's programme adding an even greater backlog of unplayed games to a situation which was already causing the league great concern.

But League secretary Ron Wilkinson says there is no need to panic yet.

"The first freeze up of the winter appears to be over and if weather relents we still have something like 15 Saturdays before cricket season commences in mid April, did, however, began looking at contingency plans like cancelling cup competitions and introducing Sunday fixtures in a bid to reduce the prospect of teams having to play several evening fixtures a week at the end of the season.

The league is also asking for anyone with other constructive ideas is being asked to contact members of the executive before its next meeting on Wednesday.

The league's website at www.westmorlandfootball.co.uk says that Westmorland's wet weather has caused similar problems in the past and archives record how during season 1978/79 there was a period of seven consecutive weeks when no games were played.

This was at a time when there were two divisions consisting of 15 and 16 teams respectively while draw games in cup competitions resulted in replays, not penalty shoot outs.

That season the High Sheriff's Cup final between Coniston and Shap which was played at Burneside on Tuesday May 22 went to two replays, both again at Burneside, before Coniston emerged victorious.

The final league fixture of the season was played on May 28 and Appleby, the eventual League champions, had only completed 11 of their 28 league fixtures at the end of March when evening fixtures commenced.