VANDALS have caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to Clitheroe sports pitches by riding over the turf.

Groundsmen at Roefield Sports Pitch in Edisford Road face hours of work to restore the churned-up ground.

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Several yards of tyre tracks were discovered at the site.

The pitches, funded by Ribble Valley Council, will be out of use for the short term, the council has said, with sports matches moving elsewhere.

Cllr Robert Thompson, chairman of the council’s community services committee, said the damage will affect innocent people.

He said: “A scooter or small motorbike has apparently accessed the pitch via a pedestrian gate and used it as a racetrack.

“This is a particularly thoughtless action that will stop a number of young people from enjoying their sport this weekend. The council is frequently told that there aren’t enough pitches to satisfy demand and now this particularly popular pitch will have to be taken out of use for a week or so for extensive repair work to be carried out.

“Some of the ruts are so deep that a player could easily trip up or sprain an ankle.

“We are determined to catch the culprits and have reported the matter to police.

“Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the police in confidence on 101.”

Last year the sports pitches received a £50,000 boost from the council and Sport England’s inspired programme to build 3G pitches alongside the grass ones.

As well as football, the pitches are used for junior rugby. A similar incident occurred in September after Whalley Juniors FC’s pitches were torn up by vandals.

Groundsmen discovered several tyre tracks on the Queen Elizabeth II playing fields. Club owners were worried that the incident could jeopardise the pitch if funding dried up.

The two incidents are not thought to be linked. A police spokesman said the latest incident had been reported and will be investigated.