The groundsman who used the wrong type of weedkiller on the square at a leading Oxfordshire cricket club, turning it brown in mid-season, has lost his job at the Club.

In July, Tony King picked up the wrong canister which he applied to the square and much of the outfield at Henley Cricket Club.

Club chairman Brian Kenworthy said, “Our ground afterwards looked more like something you would see in Barbados rather than Oxfordshire”.

He added, “Tony was not an employee of the Club. He provided us with grounds preparation and maintenance services, so we have decided not to renew his contract at the end of the season.

“Setting aside the weedkiller incident, we are grateful for everything that Tony has done for the Club but felt it was time to move on. Tony felt very bad about the mistake, but despite the look more than 400 runs were scored in the match league match against Slough immediately after the incident.

“We are aware that our wicket had become progressively more difficult to play on and this has been reflected in the umpires scores given after every league game during the past two or three year period - so we felt it was time for a change.”

Henley play in the Home Counties Premier League, but missed out on a hat-trick of championships after losing to High Wycombe on the last day of the season this year.