Members of a much-loved cricket club have been left feeling "upset" after youths vandalised a new grant and council funded fence.

Bradshaw Cricket Club has once again been vandalised by youths who entered the grounds through the main gates before "causing some major damage" to one of the fences at the back where there is no exit.

The fence which has been pulled down was only recently erected in March after the club received help from Viridor Credits and the council to put up the fence after years of vandalism.

The club, which is on Rigby Lane, off Bolton Road, put an appeal out on social media to help identify who caused the damage and they have now been given two names which they reported to the police.

Club secretary Mike Buckley said: “The incident happened on Tuesday, May 30 at around 5.55pm.

“A group of youths came on to the ground through the main gates but when leaving they went out the back way where there is no exit.

“Two climbed over the fence and proceeded to kick the fence in, others joined in when the fence started to give way.

“It’s very upsetting, we are a community organisation with more than 600 members and 200 of them are juniors aged four to 18.

“We spend lots of time and effort on our facilities, and we received help from Viridor Credits and the council to erect the fence after years of vandalism by the local youths, with the new fences erected in March.

“We are getting a good response on social media and have already got a couple of names.

“The members are just shocked by this mindless vandalism, and we will be prosecuting if we can prove who did it.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Greater Manchester Police are investigating.

"It’s been classified as criminal damage that occurred to a fence at Bradshaw Cricket Club at around 6pm on 30 May 2023.

"No arrests have been made at this time and enquiries are ongoing."

Back in August last year, the club was targeted by vandals who started to congregate regularly since the start of the summer holidays.

As well as wrecking furniture they also directed threats at members of the cricket club, threatening to stab the chairman as they went on a wrecking spree.

If you know anything about the vandalism, contact police on 101, or to report anonymously, contact the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno