VANDALS damaged a Bolton bowling club's green -- by stacking six 330lb stone benches vertically across the grass.

Members of Bolton Flat Green Bowling Club arrived at their clubhouse in Leverhulme Park, Darcy Lever, yesterday morning to find a scene resembling Stonehenge.

Club Secretary Keith Skermer said members had repaired the benches last summer -- and they had struggled to lift them into position then.

He added: "It took four or five members to lift them so it has got to be more than one person who has done this

"They can't be kids as they just could not lift them. They are just morons."

The club was also rocked by vandalism last summer when teenage motorbikers wrecked the green just weeks before a team of Australian Commonwealth Games bowlers were due to visit.

Now members must fix the damaged benches themselves and repair a series of divots in the bowling green. Mr Skermer said: "It is the second time in less than a year that we have had major incidents of vandalism.

"It would have taken at least three or four people to lift the benches, so we just cannot understand it. It could have been a lot worse than it was because they have not dragged the benches -- they have lifted them.

"It was also driving with rain at the time.

"Now members are going to have to repair the damage themselves from club funds."

The club has submitted an application for National Lottery funding for an artificial bowling green and for extra fencing and floodlighting.