BARRY childrens' love of the 'beautiful game' can cost them dear in the Vale of Glamorgan.

A a survey commissioned by the GMB union shows the local authority as the most expensive place to hire a football pitch in Wales.

A game of soccer on a Saturday afternoon in Barry costs senior teams a whacking £33 whereas in Caerphilly it costs just £10.15.

Della Lack is Chairman of Holton Road under-eights, who use Colcot Community Centre. She said: "While we don't pay as much as senior teams, we still have to pay £25 per hour for half of the Astro turf.

Any facilities we hire cost a lot."

Her views were echoed by local councillors.

Cllr Harry Clease told the News: "I live on the Buttrills and I've seen the state of the pitches up there.

The facilities are terrible and the fields are never maintained.

The people who play there are being grossly overcharged."

His Barry Town Council colleague Richard Bertin added: "Young people are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle, but with prices like this there is no way they can afford it.

The Welsh Assembly is bringing in an initiative to give children free access to leisure centres through the summer.

The council should lower their prices to promote fitness in the Vale."

But a Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman defended the charges, describing the pitches as excellent.

He said: "The council considers it levies a fair charge for the provision, together with changing rooms and showers, of pitches of exceptional quality in pleasant surroundings.

The fine facilities also, in general, have good access and ample car parking, and pavilions have well-trained and experienced staff offering assistance to all users."

GMB Senior Official and member of the TUC General Council Paul Kenny said: "Prices in some areas are too high and councillors should work to get them down, since we are all being encouraged to take more exercise as part of a healthier lifestyle."