BUDDING footballers are set to lose many more months of training following new lockdown restrictions.

Della Bennett, manager of Flint U13s, said the current restrictions mean that some of her players are unable to take part due to living in different areas.

Earlier this month, new and tighter restrictions were imposed on Flintshire, Wrexham, Denbighshire and Conwy in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

However, Della said many players who live outside the lockdown county, cannot travel into it to train.

She told the Leader: "Due to the new restrictions of not being allowed to leave our county, this is causing uproar for teams who have players in different areas

"After losing six months of football already the players that live just outside our area are set to lose more, which will have a detrimental effect on their mental well-being."

A petition has been launched to 'allow children to enter lockdown areas to continue to train with their existing sports clubs'.

This has received over 8,000 signatures.

Della added: "I have a player that lives in Prestatyn and he was unable to train with his team mates in Flint, which is where his grassroots and academy team train.

"As volunteers we are doing our upmost to provide a safe setting for our players and now we are hit with this hurdle just because they live a few miles outside of Flintshire.

"Across the counties this is affecting all sports clubs.

"The petition has over 8,000 signatures now but we really want to raise awareness in the hope that something can be done to get our players back doing what they love.

"They have already missed so much and they are set to lose many more months of training."

The petition can be found at https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/244199