VANDALS have again targeted an amateur soccer club causing damage amounting to several hundred of pounds.

Now Atherton Collieries have warned of a "zero tolerance" approach to hooligans who trespass at their Alder House ground.

The players' dug-out was smashed up and five sections of the fence surrounding the Colls' pitch had beer barrels thrown through them. Each panel will cost around £100 to replace.

One of the turnstiles was completely ripped and cannot be replaced as it was bought from Horwich RMI many years ago.

Colls' chairman Steve Payne said: "The money we could be spending on the future of the club is now being spent on repairs.

"We used to leave our gates open so that in bad weather, kids could come into the stands.

"Now they are going to be closed completely and we will telephone the police if we find anyone on the ground that isn't supposed to be there."

Mr Payne also feels this vandalism could put young people off wanting to join the club because they only see money being spent on putting these problems right.

He added: "The club will have a zero tolerance approach to this kind of behaviour in future."