Football pitches in Enfield will be independently assessed following concerns from teams they are not fit for purpose.

Last week the Enfield Independent reported that teams of the Cheshunt Youth Football league were considering a day of protest after stating that many pitches owned by Enfield Borough Council are unsafe.

Those who wish to play on senior pitches rated at grade I by the local authority must pay £1,570 a season with junior pitches priced at £728.

The local authority said it "strongly disputes" claims its pitches were not safe.

The council has now written to each club in the Cheshunt league and told the teams it has commissioned an assessment of every pitch they own.

Seen by the this newspaper, it reads: "Following some recent concerns about the quality of our pitches we have commissioned an independent pitch assessment of every football pitch in the borough.

"They will be delivered with the support of the Football Association and will help our continued efforts to improve our services."

The league estimates more than 2,000 children play on local authority pitches each season and some teams have been forced to postpone matches on safety grounds.

Alf Fajardo, development officer for the league told the newspaper that the email is knee-jerk reaction to what has been reported.

He said: "This is a knee-jerk reaction to the spotlight that has finally been placed on those pitches.

"This is a complete change from the council’s previous denial that the pitches are not safe. We have not even hit the winter months and that is when the pitches are at their worst."