Vandals churned up a bowling green in Radlett on Tuesday night, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

The bowling green, at Phillimore Recreation Ground, in Gills Hill Lane, Radlett, is run by Aldenham Parish Council and is home to Radlett Bowls Club.

The vandals broke in between 5pm on Tuesday and 8am the following morning, when the damage was discovered. Wheel- barrows had been used as racing carts along the green and further destruction was caused in a separate incident on Wednesday night.

Grounds staff who maintain the green estimated the damage at £500, and said they would not know whether their efforts to repair the green had been successful until spring. The new bowling season starts in April.

Carrie Lloyd, from Aldenham Parish Council, said: "They broke in again on Wednesday night and dug their heels into the turf and gouged out bits of ground. The repair work could take months or even longer depending on how the weather goes."

The attacks have been reported to the police but the bowling green is not covered by CCTV. In May 2005 the bowling green was damaged by youths using the area for skateboarding practice.