VANDALS who have repeatedly targeted Bury's popular Hoyle Park could seriously jeopardise plans for a £500,000 two-storey community and sporting centre.

The grim warning has come from the Hoyle Park Sports Club, which is spearheading the development to bring recreation and education under one roof.

But officials say that because of the expenses they have been forced to fork out in repair bills, the project could be at risk.

Last October it was announced the club had embarked on a two-year fund-raising campaign to meet the costs of the community and sports centre. Under the plans, the existing 1930s park pavilion will be demolished to make way for the two-storey community centre and changing rooms.

When completed, the building will offer an Internet cafe, creche, education facilities for children and ten changing rooms.

Representatives from the 12 soccer and three rounders teams which use the park are embraced within Hoyle Sports Club, which is responsible for the management and future of the recreation facilities.

On Tuesday, the latest vandalism took place when youngsters climbed on to the pavilion roof, ripped off slates and ridge tiles, and threw them on to the concrete below.

Paul Barry, club chairman, said: "The club is non-profit making and expenses like this jut put the whole project at risk."

The latest repair bill will come to £200. Mr Barry said: "This is just one of a number of incidents that have taken place. The roof has already been repaired once and someone tried to set fire to the pavilion. Graffiti is a daily problem, so much so that the building is being re-painted at our expense, again approximately £200, with volunteers doing the work.

"Broken glass at the pavilion, and indeed on the children's pitches, appear all the time. To top it all, we have people riding motorbikes across the pitches when we have four, five and six-year-olds training. Imagine the impression visiting teams get and what injuries it could cause to such a young child."

The sports club has been given a £2,600 Awards for All grant to fund a variety of training equipment to benefit teams which use the sports club.

Mr Barry said: "We have just set up our first girls section with Walshaw Park JFC, who have also just started their first kindergartens, ready for season 2004-05.

"On top of that, as a result of working closely with Bury Council's parks and green spaces and the Chesham Tenants and Residents Association, the park itself is looking busier.

Sports teams and local residents seem to use it all the time now."