'My house is used like a coconut shy'
Most of us go into our garden to relax and unwind - but one householder says she doesn't like her family going outside for fear of being hit by a stray cricket ball.
Antonia Jones wants nets to be put up at the back of her property, which is bordered by Wednesbury Sports Union's cricket pitch, as she is concerned about damage to her home or being injured.
Mrs Jones said one ball has even ended up inside her house.
The 79-year-old, who lives on Vimy Terrace, Wednesbury, said: "The problem we have is the cricket balls coming over the fence, at such a pace.
"Several times I've complained about the balls coming over.
"Over a number of years we've had literally hundreds, and I've got to the stage where I refuse to give the balls back until they do something to make it safe."
Mrs Jones said she is now stopping her great-grandchildren from going into the garden, including three-year-old Thomas.
She said: "How do you explain to a three-year-old that they can't play out in the garden?
"One day he got up from the kitchen floor to come into the living room, and it can only have been seconds when I heard an almighty smash.
"A cricket ball had come through the door of the extension, bounced off something and into the kitchen.
"You think you would be safe in your own house.
"I don't want my home to be used as a coconut shy, which it seems to be."
Mrs Jones said that so far this season three balls have made their way into her garden, including one which hit her back door.
She said that although there are nets up on other sides of the cricket field, she would now like to see them extended to cover her house.
Wednesbury ward Councillor Elaine Costigan said she is planning on talking to the club to see what can be done.
She said: "There's nets all the way around but this bit does need looking at."
Chairman of Wednesbury Cricket Club Mark Nightingale said it is a difficult issue, and getting nets put up depends on the funding that is available. The council had previously helped the club to put up netting on two side of the ground.
He said: "We have a policy in place to go around and make sure no-one's hurt if balls do go over.
"It's very rare the balls go into that side of the ground."
