The Langbaurgh West Rural District League is the latest victim of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Of the 14 member clubs only Stafford Place and Maltby have not been affected and it has been decided to postpone the start of the season until July.

"We hope to play the second-half of the season and to have a league competition but cup competitions have been cancelled and we have had to pull out of the inter-league Wilkinson and KV Computer Services Cups," said general secretary Bernard Newman.

"It is very sad. Nobody can remember this happening before but we had no alternative. The vast majority of our clubs either play on agricultural land or their fields adjoin farms."

The Bass North Cleveland League expect to start on schedule because only Ormesby Hall are so far affected. "If any side cannot play I will rearrange the match for later in the season but we will be doing everything we can to get in a full season," declared fixture secretary Keith Harding.

The Darlington and District League programme stands and clubs can play fixtures on any ground but if a fixture cannot be fulfilled it will be classed as a draw.

"We are classing the first half of the season as friendlies although these results will be incorporated into the final table. We hope to play normal league fixtures from July onwards and champions will be declared for all four divisions, but there will be no promotion or relegation," said vice-president Noel Heaton last night.

The league will also play all its cup competitions and if a tie cannot be staged then a coin will be tossed to decide who goes through into the next round.

In the Readers Durham County League, a decision will be taken next week.

"Clubs have been asked to let me know within the next few days what their position is but obviously we all want to play. We also need to consider the fact that several sides have signed up overseas professionals," said League secretary Roy Coates.

The region's other principal leagues expect to play much as normal but in Northumberland the Alnwick and District League have shelved a competitive season and clubs will arrange friendlies as they wish.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, are to make their ground available to any club unable to use their own pitch.