A CLITHEROE sports pitch has been ‘cut to shreds’ after a sneaky adult kickabout.

Now the pitch at Edisford Road will be closed for several days while council groundsmen rectify the damage.

Up to 12 adults were spotted turfing up at the Edisford Road pitch – one of five next to the car park – on Wednesday night.

The site was closed after heavy rain and the football kickabout caused significant damage to the pitch’s saturated grass surface.

Security chains holding the goals together were later found to have been removed by bolt-cutters.

Now the police and Ribble Valley Borough Council, which owns the site, are appealing for information in a bid to catch the culprits and recover repair costs.

Stuart Carefoot, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s community services committee, said: “A group of adults were spotted entering the site without permission and having an impromptu kickabout on a pitch that was rain-soaked.

“In doing so, the grass has been cut to shreds and the pitch rendered unusable.

“This thoughtless and selfish act means youngsters and authorised users will be prevented from using the pitch until the it is repaired.

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

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