THIEVES have left a local football team with a £2,000 bill after trashing changing rooms in search of scrap metal.

Mill Hill FC's Griffin Ground facilities off Stancliffe Street, were broken into overnight between 6pm on Monday and 10.30am on Tuesday.

The damage to the boiler room, piping, showers and urinals meant Saturday's East Lancashire League fixture had to be called off as the club was left with no running water.

Footballs and power tools were also taken during the burglary, which police are investigating.

Now secretary Peter Fryer, 54, said the bill to repair the damage threatened the club's very existence.

He said: “Money-wise it could threaten the future of the club because we've only paid half our pitch fees and there's another round at the start of the year.

“We have been trying to get money together to get the pitch done up, but that cash may now have to go on repairs.

“Hopefully it is something we will overcome. It's just how we manage in the meantime. It's a real mess and we've got to pick up the pieces.”

Mr Fryer said the building has been targeted before because of its secluded location and that four weeks ago the female urinals were trashed.

The doors and cisterns were smashed and the taps removed and piping stripped for copper, which thieves sell on to scrap yards for quick and easy profit.

In last week's break-in, police said the offenders used a screwdriver to remove a vent at the bottom of a rear door and vandalised the boiler room. Mr Fryer said it would cost around £2,000 to bring back up to scratch.

He added: “The rules of the league mean we have to have running water for showers. We've informed the league of what's happened.

“We are all just gutted after all the hard work we put in. We are going to have to look at putting in security lighting too.

“The problems with scrap metal thieves in the area just seem to be getting worse. It's churches, hospices and community facilities that get hit.”

Mill Hill Neighbourhood Sergeant Paul Schofield appealed for anyone with information about the burglary to contact police on 0845 1 253545.