Updated: VANDALS systematically took glass bottles and smashed them over sports pitches used by children as young as six.

The attack took place at Railway Institute’s sports ground in New Lane, Holgate, York, some time after dark on Sunday.

Sports club chairman Sean Heslop said members discovered yesterday morning that someone had tried to break into the clubhouse.

But when they were unable to get in, Mr Heslop said, it appeared they had taken every glass bottle they could find in the waste bins and smashed them over the grassed playing pitches and the disabled ramp.

He said: “It’s going to be very hard to recover all the glass from the pitches as it’s very hard to see.”

He said it would take all day to clear up the glass from the concreted areas, but the pitches would take longer.

He said: “For the grassed areas, before any sections start training they will be asked to go along the grass checking for glass.

“We know we won’t get it all, but we will make it as safe as possible.”

More than 500 people use the club each week. There are children’s and adults’ football teams, rugby teams and netball teams. There is also a cricket team and a petanque pitch among other facilities.

The club underwent £650,000 of redevelopment last year and since then has become a magnet for vandals, said Mr Heslop.

He said: “We’ve been subject to a lot of vandalism over the years, but it’s got worse since the redevelopment.

“It’s sad they have to resort to this for their amusement.”

The clubhouse runs a bar, but there is no money left in the building.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said it was a “despicable” crime.

She said: “This is a valuable community asset that is used by all ages and all types of people.

“It is particularly sickening and despicable that broken glass has been scattered over the grass sports pitches.

“This could obviously cause serious injury to adults and young children and the people who did this must be brought to justice.”

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to phone the police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.