A CHILDREN'S play park could be forced to close every time the local cricket side meets after a wayward ball landed just feet away from a playing toddler.

Three-year-old Joseph Wood narrowly avoided serious injury when a ball whizzed within three feet of his head as he enjoyed an afternoon out in Dunster Packhorse Playing Field with his mum Elaine.

Clearly still shaken by the incident, Mrs Wood told the Free Press she was aware a notice had been put on the playing field gate warning that a match was in progress but was unaware that meant balls could land in the children's play area.

She said: "I have to admit when I've been there before and heard matches I've thought it was a bit close, but because the notice advises parents not to let their children play on the field, I thought it literally meant just the field and not the play park as well.

"If the ball had hit my son it would have killed him.

"I don't want to be miserable, but had something happened I'm sure that notice wouldn't stand up in a court of law.

"If something isn't done and someone is hit, I really worry that some poor bloke out playing cricket could find themselves being done for manslaughter."

She said she had used the playing field regularly with her son over the last three years and often gave donations towards its upkeep.

"I don't want to be a killjoy and I would hate to see the park area closed off when there's cricket, but I was so shocked by what I saw.

"The ball flew over the hedge, right where people often leave their smaller children and babies in prams as the hedge is often the only bit in the shade," Mrs Wood said.

Dunster Cricket Club captain Andy Fay, who is also involved with the playing field committee, said he was aware of the incident involving Joseph and said the situation would now be reviewed.

"We always thought something like this was quite unlikely, but now it has happened we will be meeting to review the arrangements," he said.

"It might be that we have to close the area when matches are on, which would be a real shame, but it might be the only solution."

He said the club's insurers had told them to put a notice on the playing field gate advising of the possible dangers from stray cricket balls.

"We have been advised we would be insured against any possible injury," Mr Fay said.