A FOOTBALL league has had to cancel all of its cup competitions because the bad weather has caused a fixture backlog.

Clubs in the Stepy's Coaches Durham Sunday Football League have agreed to the drastic move in a bid to complete the league season on time.

It is the first time in the league's history that this has been proposed.

The bad weather, which has plagued the season, has resulted in more than 400 games needing to be rescheduled.

The season must finish on May 13, and rearranging so many games would have proved an impossible task.

Some teams have only played five league games to date and, with only six weeks left of the season, they would have to play virtually every night to complete the fixtures.

In addition, Durham City Football Club, the venue for the cup finals, have said their ground will not be available.

The competitions which have been cancelled are the Justsport League Cup, Racing Promotions Trophy, Durham City AFC Supporters Trophy, Ramside Hall Hotel Cup Winners Trophy, Durham Driveways Cup and FTC Motorcycles Trophy.

Graham Lilley, the league's honorary secretary, said: "Nobody in the league is happy with this decision.

"But the alternative was the league would not be finished and we would not be affiliated for next season.

"And clubs who had not completed their fixtures would be removed from the league to enable completion."