RIBBLESDALE League umpire Steve Wignall has defended his controversial decision to dismiss Barnoldswick professional Clinton Peake.

The 61-year-old official raised his right arm after the ball struck him on the shoulder at square leg, looped into the air and was caught by a Settle fielder.

It came as the Barlick paid man was looking to build a big score and, despite protests from the visitors, the 31-year-old Australian's innings ended early.

Wignall, who is a Class One umpire, said: "He just swung at the ball. It was a bit dull on Saturday because there was a bit of rain and, as the ball started to come towards me, usually I would have time to duck out of the way.

"But as it got closer I knew I wasn't going to miss it.

"I ducked, but it hit my shoulder and instead of going down it went straight up into the air and was caught."

The official from Burnley, who played for Pendle Forest for 30 years and has umpired for nine years, revealed he had experienced such incidents during umpire examinations, although never on the field of play.

And he had to consult the umpiring manual and phone a friend before the decision was rubber-stamped.

He said: "It's came up in the exams, but the other umpire, Phil Keating, didn't know if it was out. I looked at the manual and rang one of my colleagues, Mark Eggleston, who was on a rain break in the match at Rawtenstall.

"He told me that the umpire is in play all the time, so even if the ball hits him, the player is still out. It is similar to a referee in football.

"Everybody I've spoken to has said they've never seen anything like it before. I was gutted that it happened to me and hopefully it won't happen again. It's not only embarrassing, but I also felt really sorry for the player."