Anger as drunk yobs target sports field (From Gazette & Herald)

Anger as drunk yobs target sports field

9:57am Thursday 16th November 2006

• Print
• Email
• Share

A GANG of drunken youths have targeted a village sports field, smashing spectator seats and littering the grass with empty beer cans.

Over the past few weeks the mindless yobs have been congregating at the field in Ebberston at night, drinking beer and causing damage.

Now members of the village sports field committee are at their wits end with the vandals after youths ripped out seats lining the field last week.

Chair of the sports field group, John Jennings, is frustrated by the lack of respect they have shown the valuable community facility.

He said: "I am very disappointed by this and it seems the sports field is becoming a hang-out for a small number of destructive youths.

"It's a shame that all the facilities here are there for these kids to use but they would rather destroy them.

"We have to raise all our own money and this sort of mindless vandalism is wasting our precious resources."

It is not known how much it will cost to replace the seats damaged in the latest bout of damage.

Now John hopes this problem will soon be nipped in the bud.

He added: "This is not the first time the sports field has been targeted.

"But we hope that the youths responsible tire of what they are doing because we cannot keep funding their damage."

Police are looking for anybody who has any information about the vandalism at Ebberston. They should contact Malton police station with any information on 0845 6060247.

• A TEENAGER from Pickering was frogmarched to his local fire station after being caught with a firework.

As part of Operation Eyesight, firefighters and police officers worked together to promote safety over the bonfire season.

A change in the law means it is an offence to sell fireworks to youngsters and anyone under 16 caught with a firework in a public place could be landed with a fine.

But this year only one local schoolboy was caught and was given a stiff talking to with his father about the dangers of fireworks.

Fire brigade crew manager, Stuart Hopkin, said the initiative has been a success.

He said: "I think the message about fireworks is getting through to young people and we only had one lad brought in.

"He came with his father and we gave him a talk about safety and showed him some gory pictures."

• A CAR parked in Malton has been targeted by vandals. The Renault clio was parked on Greengate when it was kicked and damaged on Saturday night, causing damage estimated at £700.

• Print
• Email
• Share