OLYMPIC organisers who dug up public land to build a temporary sports hall have failed to restore the site to its original condition by the agreed legal deadline.

Waltham Forest Council granted planning permission for the basketball training venue to built on Leyton Marsh, off Lea Bridge Road, on the promise that the site would be returned to its former glory by October 15.

But the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has failed to do so, blaming the rain.

A spokesman said it still hoped to restore the site by the end of the month if weather permits.

The affected land is currently a muddy mess with much works equipment still on site.

Campaigners from the Save Leyton Marsh group, who have always doubted whether it was even possible to fully restore the land, said the delay was further evidence of the foolishness of the project.

They said: "The rainy weather is being used by the ODA and its contractors as a lame excuse for being unable to properly and timely reinstate this unprecedented, appalling and so unnecessary attack on open green land.

"Waltham Forest [Council] was naive to expect that it could be done".

Campaigner Caroline Day added: "The rain is not a very good excuse. What country have they been living in all this time? Most people I think would expect rain in England in October.

"The reinstatement plan was insufficient and badly executed, and it's impossible to restore the land as a habitat, which is something which takes years and years to develop.

"There's also clearly a problem with the drainage at the site, which there shouldn't be on a marsh."

Normal planning rules were waived by the council to allow the sports hall to be built on the grounds that the Olympics were "exceptional circumstances".

When councillors approved the application back in February the Labour chair of its planning committee, Cllr Peter Barnett, explained his yes vote by saying: “I am in favour of this as long as I have reassurances that the field will be in pristine condition come October 15".

An ODA spokesman said: “We have received expert advice in light of the recent heavy rainfall advising against completing laying the turf until conditions on the ground improve.

"We would like to reassure residents and stakeholders that restoring the land at Porter’s Field [on Leyton Marsh] in accordance with our reinstatement plan remains an urgent priority for the ODA.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

A spokeswoman for the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA), which manages the land, said: “We accept that recent bad weather has meant the ODA has not been able to returf the area of Leyton Marsh where the temporary basketball venue was located, and that the area was not able to open as planned on 15 October.

"However both the ODA and LVRPA agree that the most important thing is that the area is restored to the highest possible standard - something which will benefit visitors and the Marshes long term."

A council spokesman said: “We have been in regular contact with the reinstatement team and no further action is being considered [against the ODA]”.