A MYSTERY prankster has left football chiefs baffled after a giant sticker was repeatedly stolen from an advertising billboard.

The advertisement is a massive reproduction of Blackburn Rovers loyalty scheme, The Card, and is displayed under Darwen Street railway bridge.

Officials at the club say security staff will be patrolling the area in a bid to catch the culprit.

Part of The Card, a sticker that says Eve - an abbreviation for Everton FC - has been targeted three times by a prankster.

The marketing team at Blackburn suspect someone called Eve or someone with a girlfriend or wife of the same name may be responsible.

The giant card has seven numbers on it and after each home match the Blackburn marketing team add another sticker to the card.

However the Eve sticker has now gone missing on three occasions since the Everton match in August, with the latest theft taking place on Monday.

Head of marketing and sales, Simon Williams said: "We are baffled why anybody would want the Eve sticker but someone is obviously desperate for it and we've now had to replace it three times.

"From our point of view it's now becoming a pain and we asking for it to be left alone. If someone is really that desperate for the Eve sticker then we can discuss making a giant one for them to keep."

The Card is one of the ways Rovers are trying to encourage more fans to attend matches and other initiatives have included a talking bus stop, and price reductions for matches.

Mr Williams added: "We're still puzzled about what has happened so this time we've used a strong adhesive to attach it to deter anyone from taking it again."

Mr Williams said the club was asking its security staff to make regular visits past the sign. If it continued to be a problem the club would report the matter.

The Card initiative is open to all people who buy adult match tickets.

For each game fans get a sticker to put on the loyalty card.

After attending three home matches the Card entitles the holder to £10 off the fourth match.

Fans who buy tickets from the club over the internet can also take part.

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