Safety fears over drought-affected sports pitches
BBCMonths of hot dry weather have left sports pitches in an increasingly dangerous state.
Football, rugby and cricket clubs across Wiltshire have expressed fears that the hard ground could lead to players getting injured.
The start of the community rugby season has been delayed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), until 21 September instead of 5 September, and there are concerns that football leagues may be forced to do the same.
"Seeing the football pitches in the condition they're in now is tough," said Andrew Briggs, Head of of Operations at Central Swindon North Parish Council, which recently spent £35,000 on improving the grass pitches at the town's Moredon Sporting Hub.
"This year has been exceptional in that we haven't had a single bit of rainfall in as many weeks as I can remember, and it's left the pitches struggling," he added.
"But player safety is paramount and that'll be the main factor in deciding whether play actually can take place."
The weather has also meant that many teams haven't been able to complete their normal pre-season training - particularly contact practice - so won't be ready for the demands of a full game.
Recent guidance by England Football has urged match officials to arrive at games early enough to carry out thorough pitch inspections and decide whether it is safe to play.
An "excessively hard surface", cracks in the ground or particularly bad conditions around high use areas like goalmouths can all be reasons to call off or abandon a game.
Clare Avenell, lead sports therapist for Chippenham Rugby club, said the hard ground can cause a range of injuries:
"We could see shin splints, tendon problems and even stress fractures," she said.
"Landing on the hard ground could lead to bone bruising and bursa problems, especially in rugby where you're also having to worry about landing on shoulders and elbows."
The decision to delay the start of the rugby season due to the dry weather also has an impact on clubs and players behind the scenes:
"It has a huge impact really, if you've got a commercial club and a bar it's the income that generates that keeps the club going really," said chair of Royal Wootton Bassett RFC Chris Elias.
"If you take a prime month out then its a huge loss of revenue, and if you're not seeing players come back there is a chance that you will see people drifting away from the sport," he added.
The cricket season is ongoing, but player safety is also a concern in that sport.
Cricket clubs are allowed to water the central square of their pitches, even in times of a hosepipe ban, but the outfield has to stay dry.
Richard Mosdell is the groundsman for Allington Cricket Club, near Chippenham.
He says watering the pitch is crucial to allowing games to be played, but the dry outfields remain a danger.
"A cricket pitch is predominantly clay, which needs water to bind it together " he said.
"As it starts to crack, it can mean the five ounce cricket ball is coming at you at 60mph and you don't know whether it's going to hit you in the knees or the face."
"In the outfield you're a brave person if you decide to dive for a catch."
The cricket season ends in late September.
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