VANDALS have put a popular Heysham park out of action.

Lancaster City Council has been forced to transfer or postpone some Christmas bookings due to acts of vandalism in Douglas Park.

The park's floodlights - which were only recently repaired - have been seriously damaged and all bookings prior to Christmas and early in the New Year have been transferred or postponed.

The damage to the floodlights, electric meter and substation housing will require both emergency repairs and a permanent solution - at an approximated cost of £1,000 - before any further floodlit bookings can take place

City Council staff are now contacting clubs to either transfer bookings to Morecambe's new Happy Mount Park floodlit football pitch or postpone games at Douglas Park until repairs are completed.

Shaun Ward, principal leisure manager, at the city council, says: "We are very sorry for the inconvenience this disruption has caused to our regular clubs

"Repairs will be carried out as quickly as possible and normal service will resume early in the New Year."

Cllr James Airey, cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, says: "I am saddened that vandals have caused such damage, which will inevitably have a knock-on effect for all residents.

"The council will do everything it can to minimise disruption and I would urge anyone with any information about this act of vandalism to contact the police."

Any clubs wishing to make alternative arrangements during the temporary closure are asked to call the council's leisure services division on 582832.