Ant 'cloud' stops cricket match

Flying ants swarmed over a Thames Valley Police batsman

A cricket match had to be abandoned after ants stopped play.

The Thames Valley Police side had just started batting against the Lamb Inn when a cloud of flying ants descended on an unsuspecting batsman.

Players fled the ground in Newbury, Berkshire, and the game was abandoned after attempts to get rid of the insects failed.

Investigations later found nests at both ends of the pitch at St Bartholemew's School on Wednesday.

Adrian Edwards, 67, of the Lamb Inn team, said it was the first time he had ever seen a game abandoned due to ants.

Exciting match

"We'd made 153 and the police were going strong in reply after six overs. Suddenly, the batsman at the batting crease was covered in flying ants," he said.

"We tried to get them off but they kept coming back, there was a whole cloud of them.

"We could not carry on like that. We stopped the game but after 15 minutes they were still around.

"There were nests at both cricket creases and they give you a nasty little nip.

"It had been an exciting match up until then."

Mr Edwards said the batsman was unhurt by the incident and the friendly 20-over fixture has been rearranged for 13 August.

Meanwhile the St Bartholomew's School groundsman was left to deal with the ants nests.