In pouring rain on Thursday night, Echo Amusements owner Mr. Neil Willerton removed his carnival trailers from BAA field, but it was "at a cost.'' Mr. Willerton, who had been ready to leave Bermuda for two weeks, was delayed by constant rainfall and the risk of causing damage to the Bermuda Athletic Association field with track marks from moving trucks.

However, due to what Mr. Willerton calls "curious'' car and truck drivers, part of the field was damaged and he was told by the Association that he owed them $4,500 for repairs.

"They threatened to lock the gates if I did not agree to pay them $3,000, $1,000 of which I gave them as a deposit and then another $2,000. I was able to remove my equipment at a cost.

"I feel terrible about having to pay that money and that's why I'm taking it to court to find out who is really responsible,'' Mr. Willerton said.

He added: "How can they hold me responsible, I never signed any papers saying that I was responsible for the field. The only reason they are doing this to me is because I don't live in Bermuda.'' Mr. Willerton has since hired lawyer Mr. Michael Scott to resolve the dispute.

"I'm getting to the bottom of this,'' Mr. Willerton said.

But members of BAA are standing firm in their belief that the Canadian fair owner was to blame to the deep muddy tyre tracks left on the field.

BAA groundsman Mr. Victor Maiato said Mr. Willerton was definitely the guilty party.

"Of course they did it, it was their equipment,'' Mr. Maiato said.

He added: "It will cost over $6,000 to repair the ground.

"When Mr. Willerton was moving his equipment the ground was so bad that he had to hire a payloader to pull the trucks out of the mud.'' Mr. Maiato also said it would take eight to 10 loads of soil to repair the field and new grass.

Member of the BAA board of management Mr. Robert Sousa said: "We told them not to move that stuff until the ground dried up. They did more damage on Thursday night.'' However, on Thursday afternoon Mr. Willerton informed The Royal Gazette that he had purposely delayed his travel plans so that he could move his equipment from the field when it was dry.

He stated: "I was not responsible for anyone driving on that area of the field. I don't even own a truck.'' BAA president Mr. David Kneisler declined to comment on the situation.