FRUSTRATED organisers of a well-established sports club are calling on kids to lay off their facilities following recent bouts of vandalism.

Hadleigh and Thundersley Cricket Club has been subject to a series of recent attacks that have seen yobs damage its practice nets, push over a sight screen and even jump on the roof of a member’s car.

The club, which is based at the John Burrows Recreation Ground, in Hadleigh, has been running for more than 60 years and has a host of senior and junior teams competing throughout the week during the summer.

Club secretary Ron Curtis believes the attacks are being carried out by local youths and has called on them to show more respect.

He added: “I just want whoever is doing this to use a bit of common sense.

“Along with a lot of other cricket clubs in Essex, we do our bit in occupying young people.

“It’s a bit disappointing when other youths spoil it for those who want to do something useful.”

The first spate of vandalism came shortly after the riots in London, and the club believes they were copycat attacks.

In the first series of incidents, which happened over the weekend of August 6 and 7, vandals pushed over a recently-renovated sight screen.

They also also tore down fencing surrounding the club’s practice nets, which were only installed last winter thanks to a £22,000 grant.

A few days later, a car in the club’s car park was heavily dented after yobs jumped up and down on it.

The matter is being investigated by police.

Mr Curtis added: “We have had no problems for quite a few years, so I think it was kids seeing what was going on in London and wanting to do the same.

“It’s nuisance stuff really, but we could do without it.”