FOOTBALL players using a park at an Inverclyde Leisure facility are kicking up a storm on Twitter.

They are complaining about the condition of the popular five-a-side astroturf playing surface at Lady Octavia — and about lack of lighting during winter evenings.

One of the floodlights has been out of action for months despite repeated repair requests from customers.

One angry player said: “A floodlight bulb has not been replaced since September.

“Part of the pitch is in darkness.”

Another said: “There are price increases year after year, and the facility gets worse year after year.

“My living room carpet has more thread on it than the so-called astroturf.

“The fence surrounding the pitches is an accident waiting to happen, and the lines to differentiate areas on the pitch are non-existent.

“It’s surprising the facility has not been closed down due to health and safety reasons.”

He added: “Come on Inverclyde Leisure, let’s see some basic improvements for a facility I can only imagine brings in a significant income for you.

“We are not asking for much —just general maintenance.”

The Tele asked David McCorkindale, head of leisure and community facilities at Inverclyde Leisure, to respond.

He says there is a continuing issue with one of the lights at the five-a-side park.

Mr McCorkindale said: “There have been two attempts by contractors to replace and repair the lamp, so to say IL have done nothing to repair the light would be inaccurate.

“In the meantime, we will continue to investigate the fault further.”

And commenting on the general condition of the facility, he said: “We are in talks at present with Inverclyde Council that would see Lady Octavia football fives park replaced within their capital programme later this year.

“We are confident users will notice a difference in the current condition.”