STORM Malik caused significant damage to Bolton Wanderers’ academy training facilities, it has emerged.

The Trotters may have blown their visitors away on the pitch on Saturday, but just up the road in Lostock their indoor dome facility met a similar fate.

The state-of-the-art £350,000 lottery-funded training ground is where the club fosters the best young footballing talent in the area, as it is used predominantly by players aged 12 and under.

It is also used by the club’s community trust, which puts on activities and events there.

Although the full extent of the damage to the facility is yet to be determined, it has been rendered completely unusable at present, with the club now looking for sites for the youngsters to continue their development.

A Wanderers spokesman said: "It has sustained extensive structural damage due to the wind on Saturday morning. It’s a pretty bad case.

“We sent people out there on Saturday morning to make sure the area is safe and secure, and we will assess everything in the coming days and see whether we will need to replace or repair so that we have the best possible facilities for the academy. For now, we will have to make alternative arrangements.”

The inflatable ‘bubble’ has made it possible for the players to train and play away from the elements throughout the winter.

But with the conditions improving all the time at this time of year the club can consider all types of temporary facilities.

“It is unusable at the minute, but the weather is improving so we will look to outdoor facilities in the locality in the meantime,” the club spokesman added.

The damage occurred on Saturday as Storm Malik ripped through the UK, which brought wind speeds of up to 90mph. But it was not the only destruction caused by the gusts.

Amateur theatre group The Summerseat Players had to cancel their production of ‘The Game’s Afoot’ on legal advice as the ceiling gave way and collapsed in The Theatre Royal in Ramsbottom.

In a statement, an official said: “Following yesterday's premature ending of the run of The Game's Afoot we would like to thank all of those who came to watch the show and really help to get live theatre back on its feet.

“To be faced now with a hole in the ceiling, dangling electrics and debris scattered around is truly a kick in the teeth for us all.

“We will be getting structural surveys done and necessary repairs made and will let you know how things progress.”

There are currently no further storm warnings for the week ahead.