LEAGUE and county cricket in Herefordshire has been plunged into doubt by the foot and mouth crisis, just a few weeks before the new season gets underway.

With a large percentage of local league clubs playing at rurally-based grounds and higher-graded teams potentially travelling to other infected areas, the 2001 season is under threat.

And the county side's Minor Counties Champ-ionship campaign could also be affected, in addition to their knockout cup matches.

Herefordshire CCC chairman Nick Nenadich said: "We're waiting for a directive or some guidance from the ECB. But the Herefordshire Cricket Board's view is that as a rural community we need to have some sensitivity about this.

"We will be taking advice from the Ministry of Agriculture and the NFU. Obviously we've got to adopt a common sense approach. We appreciate life goes on but we have a tremendous empathy for the farming community."

The West of England Clubs Championship, which includes county duo Hereford and Colwall, and the Worcestershire County League, home to Kington, Luctonians, Brockhamp-ton, Bromyard and Eastnor, are both already prepared for the worst.

Alan Bayley, administrator of the Worcestershire League, said: "A lot of thought has been given to it. I'm writing to all of our clubs asking for a 'status report' on their grounds.

"It may have quite a dramatic effect on the league. We really need to assess it as the weeks go by. Obviously we want to play as much cricket as we can but we don't want to break the law."

The Worcestershire League gets underway on April 21 with Division 1 matches and the remaining divisions start their fixtures from May 5.

Eric Woodmason, secretary of the West of England Clubs Champion-ship, said: "We don't quite know what the situation is really. There's a West of England board meeting when it will be discussed.

"I know it has been discussed at ECB level. What they are saying at this stage is that leagues should try and play cricket as much as they can but there won't be any promotion or relegation at the end of the season.

"It is a very serious situation but obviously it's far more serious for the farmers. I can't speak for any individual clubs but it could well be that some clubs don't play any home games at all this season. It is being considered and will be discussed at length."

The Hereford Times Hereford and District League have taken a similar line to the Worcester-shire League and are contacting clubs to see which sides are likely to be affected.

Hereford and District League secretary Phil Knight said: "Obviously it's going to cause a bit of a problem to start with. I'm getting in contact with all our clubs asking for clarification.

"We're seeing who can and can't play. We're going to get together and see if we need to put a contingency plan into place."

The Flint & Cook Marches League, which covers Herefordshire and several clubs from across the Welsh border, is taking more of a 'wait and see' approach and do not intend to make any immediate decision.

Marches League fixture secretary Mike Rouse said: "Nothing's been decided at the moment at all."

He said they would wait to see how the situation developed.