Residents living near a recreation ground in Luton are petitioning for better safety measures after stray cricket balls from matches landed in a garden.
Zainudeen Parker from Hillcrest Avenue says he and his family are “prisoners in our own home at certain times of day” after a worrying incident in which a ball flew into his garden and landed close to his one-year-old daughter.
He and eight of his neighbours are also concerned about the use of foul language by people at the site.
In the letter signed by the residents, Mr Parker said: “We have had enough of the foul language and balls coming over, and have been abused by the people in the park and told to go away...All this is a result of Luton Council not policing their park...My daughter could have been killed. Property has been damaged.”
The issue will be discussed by the North Luton Area Board tonight, and a decision will be made whether to allow cricket to continue at the site or close the facility.
Cricket matches have been played at the site since the 1960s and a 6.6m-high fence has been installed to prevent balls landing in gardens.