A COUNTY cricket club has been accused of disability discrimination after dispensing the services of a volunteer who has learning difficulties, on apparent health and safety grounds.

Jonathan Connelly, 33, of Coxhoe, near Durham City, was stumped when Durham County Cricket Club was terminating his cherished voluntary position at its Emirates stadium, in Chester-le-Street.

Mr Connelly and another disabled volunteer are being axed as the club prepares for the arrival of a new groundsman in March.

Mr Connelly’s mother Joan said he is upset by the loss of his “dream" role after almost five years of service.

The club's chief operating officer, Richard Dowson, said the club did not want to comment on the matter.

Mrs Connelly said her son makes the bus journey from Coxhoe to Chester-le-Street twice a week and originally went to the club on an organised work placement.

When that came to an end he was devastated, but his social worker arranged for him to continue to help out at the ground.

Mr Dowson, wrote a letter to Mr Connelly thanking him for his hard work and dedication and offering him a bat signed by Durham players.

He says that with changes taking place, health and safety will play a key role and adds: “I am afraid we are no longer able to sanction your voluntary position, which we find necessary to terminate.”

Mrs Connelly said: “My kid gets up and I have to rein him back from getting the bus at 6.30 in the morning. It is what he wants to do, it has given him a focus in life.

“Are they going to take that away because someone has come in and there is a health and safety issue that there hasn’t been for the last four years?

“The lads he has worked with for years don’t have a problem with him but a new guy is coming in and suddenly there is a health and safety issue.

“This is his dream job. He is not taking it well.

“To me, this is discrimination against a disabled person.”

Mrs Connelly said that health and safety assessments had been carried out.