A FOOTBALL club is to increase security after a break-in attempt over the Easter weekend.

The 'mindless' vandals damaged eight windows in an attempt to get into Haslingden St Mary's FC club house on Saturday night.

Apart from smashing a clock and picking up a few empty water bottles, they left empty-handed.

Club bosses said they were now planning to brick up the windows and install extra CCTV in a bid to deter future attempts.

Anthony Fitzjohn, secretary of the Shore Street club, said: "It was an attempted break-in. Thankfully they did not get in.

"They came round and tried all eight windows but we have got bars across them.

"Every window has been badly damaged."

The windows are made of perspex so the attempted thieves smashed round the outside and pushed them open - damaging them beyond repair.

"They managed to put their hands in and took a clock and empty water bottles. The clock had been smashed on the floor," he said.

"It is mindless really."

He said the attempt had caused a couple of thousand pounds worth of damage and there were now plans to replace the windows with bricks.

"We will have to increase our security after this. That is all we can do - keep chipping away.

"We will have to remove the windows and brick them up which is another expense. We just can't risk it anymore.

"We are very fortunate. We had a narrow escape really. It was all set up for a christening on Sunday and that was able to go ahead as normal thankfully."

Mr Fitzjohn said the club had been broken into in the past, however there have been no recent incidents.

"We used to have roof lights but we did away with those. It was shocking. They would come in and drop down 15 to 18ft and just trash the place and take alcohol from the bar.

"We have CCTV but it is inside and on the front so we are looking at getting more cameras."

He added it was business as usual with functions going ahead and the first team, who are currently top of division one in the West Lancs league, playing a match on Easter Monday.