BURGLARS have targeted a football club just weeks after vandals sprayed weedkiller over the pitch.

A Freeview TV box, cans of soft drink and sweets were stolen in the raid at Bolton-based Stoneclough AFC.

A kitchen window was also broken in the break in at the club, which plays in the West Lancashire league Premier Division.

Peter Conroy, honorary secretary, said the financial losses were not crippling but said the incidents were a huge annoyance and wasted the time of the club's volunteers.

Mr Conroy said: "I went in on Sunday morning to wash the kit and everything was fine.

"Then at dinner time I got a call saying somebody had broken in.

"The place had been turned upside down. Fortunately we don't keep a great deal in there, it's just used mainly for the kids to buy some sweets after matches.

"The council have offered us money but we are not bothered about the cost as it's not a lot to replace a Freeview box."

The club wants to erect fencing around the perimeter of its council-owned pitch, but is struggling to find funding for the estimated £6,500 cost.

The November 23 break-in came less than two weeks after large patches of the pitch at the Brook Fields ground were badly damaged by weedkiller.

Cllr Liam Irving, for Kearsley, said the council is not likely to be in a position to fund fencing themselves.

He said: "It looks like somebody has got it in for them to be honest, that's all I can think of.

"This break-in might be different people but it really is rotten luck for the club.

"They do an awful lot of good work in the area and are valued.

"What we are looking at is getting grants from various bodies to see if we can secure funding to help them fence it off.

"Bolton Council owns the land but because of the financial constraints at the moment it is hard to see us being in a position to provide the money."

PC Aimee Abraham, from Bolton South neighbourhood policing team, said: "I saw the damage and the club does not have much money and are trying to do the best they can. It is there for the community so it is a real shame this has happened to them.

"We don't know who is responsible at the moment but we are looking into it."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 8565608.