VANDALS who ‘deliberately’ spread glass across an all-weather pitch have been branded as ‘completely irresponsible’.

Community leaders hit out at anti-social teens, who have been targeting the pitch at Queen Street Recreation Ground, also known as King George V Playing Fields, in Briercliffe.

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They said the vandalism is the latest in a long line of incidents at the playground.

Cllr Anne Kelly, who sits on Briercliffe Parish Council, said: “We have had concerns about anti-social behaviour before but finding all the glass was new to us.

“Bottles have been deliberately smashed and spread all over the all-weather pitch which is a serious safety concern.

“This pitch is often used by children including members of Briercliffe Rovers for matches.

“The vandals responsible are not thinking about the consequences of what they are doing.

“It is stopping children using a good facility that has cost the parish council a lot of money to keep in a good condition.”

Glass was spread on the pitch twice in two consecutive days last week, despite council staff clearing the pitch after the first incident.

Young people have also been spotted setting fire to bushes and litter bins as well as throwing stones from a wall into a basketball net, councillors said.

The anti-social behaviour has been reported to the neighbourhood policing team who, at the last meeting of the parish council, said they would look to keep a closer eye on what children were getting up to.

Cllr Kelly said: “It’s a popular area and could lead to children getting seriously hurt.

“It also makes the park unattractive to visitors.

“Anti social behaviour seems to come in spates but this is the worst I have ever seen.

“I do not want this to continue and I am worried that it might.

“I hope that the police can strengthen their presence because what is happening is extremely unsafe.”

The recreation ground is owned by the Briercliffe Parish Council but maintenance is carried out by the borough council.

Briercliffe Rovers Junior Football Club use it weekly for matches on Saturdays and the rest of the time it is open for public use.

Cllr Roger Frost, who is a parish and borough member said the behaviour was ‘completely irresponsible’.

He said: “The parish council is extremely concerned about this glass and parts of the park being damaged.

“It is totally irresponsible of these children and it is annoying when they behave this way on a pitch that is intended for them.

“The police have been informed and recently said they would step up their presence in the park.

“We as councillors will also be keeping an eye on things.

“I’ve not really known a spate like this for some time.”

A police spokesman said anti-social behaviour of any kind would not be tolerated and the neighbourhood policing team would be looking into the incidents.