Bowlers fear their green will not be playable this season after vandals ripped up their turf.

David Bottomley, the secretary of Royd House Bowling Club, Wilsden, hit out at youths today after damage was caused to the green and club house during a failed break-in.

The incident on Monday night was the latest in a string of wrecking sprees at the club, which has suffered broken fencing and smashed toilet cubicles.

Mr Bottomley said: "It's just mindless vandalism, the greens had only been repaired on Monday by Council workers.

"We're worried the green won't be good enough to play games on when the season starts next month.

"It's sickening when you try and provide facilities and they get destroyed. It's a waste of rate payers' money."

Mr Bottomley said the club began to suffer vandalism last summer.

Bradford Council, which owns the club, surrounded the green with a high wooden fence but it has been knocked down three times.

He said in its present state the green could not be used for matches and would not be picked for competitions by officials because of its poor condition.

Now club members believe the only solution is to surround the club with high metal fencing to keep the wreckers out.

"It would look terrible but it seems the only answer," said Mr Bottomley.

"It's not as if the young people in Wilsden have nothing to do, there's a youth club, a place to skate, and we encourage young people to play bowls."

"There's a large group of youths who cause trouble in the park and some of us have suffered verbal abuse. It seems us and clubs like us are seen as an easy target."

Mr Bottomley added Wilsden's nearby Health Centre in Main Street had suffered recent problems with vandalism.

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