VANDALS have launched a retribution attack on a bowling club by using weedkiller to write the word 'payback' in 6ft letters across the green.

It is the second time in recent months that the green at Green Park bowling club, Blackburn, has been destroyed by thugs.

And community leaders and bowling club members have united in deploring the acts of "mindless vandalism".

The incident comes just three months after the Aqueduct Road bowling club was damaged by a motorbike on the eve of the new bowling season.

Bowling club member Jim Duckett said: "The police have been up and taken samples to see what chemicals have been used.

"It looks like they have used weedkiller as it took a few days for it to show up on the grass.

"There are footprints all over the green where the chemical has been on the bottom of their shoes.

"It's very frustrating as we have more than 14 teams from the Blackburn and Darwen leagues, veterans and ladies leagues playing on here.

"We have no idea what the word 'payback' refers to. All we can think of is that somebody has taken offence if they have been thrown off the green in the past for causing trouble.

"We need CCTV on here to deter these mindless acts of vandalism."

Tory councillor Michael Law-Riding, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member of leisure and culture, slammed the act as "mindless vandalism".

He said: "The repairs cost money and while repairs are being carried out, the community is unable to use the facility."

Local resident Roger Ford, 58, who spotted the vandalism on his daily morning stroll, said: "I was absolutely disgusted when I saw how the bowling green had been damaged."

A police spokesperson said: "The people responsible should search their conscience and own up to what they have done."

Anyone with information should contact police by calling 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.