For more than a century, the Wimbledon Park Bowls Club has prided itself on being one of the best in the area.

But those associated with the club are now furious that the once great green has turned into an "embarrassment, both visually and practically."

Martin Jewitt started playing at Wimbledon Park 25 years ago but says the decline has become increasingly apparent.

"This past year the deterioration has been meteoric," he told the Wimbledon Guardian.

"We have never before noticed such clear grooves being worn into the green, presumably by the castors on the pipe, which has been used longer than I have been a member."

But that's not all.

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Mr Jewitt said the "shoddy repair work" to the back boards could result in a serious injury.

He placed the blame squarely on idverde - who is contracted out by Merton Council to maintain the area.

"When idverde finally got around to putting it back in place you can see they did so by nailing the plank to a stake they had hammered into the ground," he said.

"As this stake was not flush with the verge we have a two inch by two foot gap between the verge and the board.

"This is an accident waiting to happen, particularly as a number of our members are a little unsteady on their feet, one of whom is ninety years old."

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A spokeswoman for idverde apologised for the state of the green and blamed the recent heatwave for most of the issues.

“We regret that the bowling green at Wimbledon Park is not up to the condition the club would expect," she said.

"In common with many bowling greens in this country, Wimbledon Park’s green is watered during the daytime, resulting in higher rates of moisture evaporation.

"Despite this regular watering, the condition of the green has deteriorated due to the exceptionally hot, dry weather in recent months.

"Idverde has offered to meet with our client and members of the club at Wimbledon Park Bowling Green to discuss a way forward and the feasibility of the replacement of items such as the back boards.”

But the long-time club member isn't buying it.

"The recent hot weather should not be used as an excuse by idverde for the deterioration of the green as it has been in its current state since the start of the season in March," Mr Jewitt said.

"Long before the heatwave began."

For now though, the club is focused on getting things prepared for its 110th anniversary next year, but it won't be an easy task.

"To celebrate this, the Surrey County Bowling Association has contacted us to see if we would like to hold a match between the club and the Surrey President's team," Mr Jewitt said.

"In the world of bowls we consider ourselves very privileged to receive this offer but with the green being in the state is in it would be an embarrassment to host such a fixture both visually and practically."