MINDLESS yobs have set fire to a brand new £25,000 astroturf at Kilwinning Sports Club.

Staff at the club have been left sickened and devastated after discovering large patches of the brand new turf have been burnt off - just two weeks after it was laid.

The community club - which is largely funded by charities - had just spent £25,000 of funding on the new grass in time for the Easter Holidays so underprivileged kids in the area could use it during the school break.

But just four days into the holidays vandals have already caused extensive damage by leaving giant scorch marks all over the expensive lawn - meaning the planned Easter holiday football camps will have to move due to the possible trip hazard on the burned areas.

Club administrator Claire Hodge, said: “The grass was fine on Monday during the day and the damage was discovered first thing on Tuesday morning during routine checks.

“We are absolutely devastated. How could anyone do this to our club? It’s shocking. We have just had the turf laid two weeks ago and we were excited that the kids in the area would get full use of it in their Easter holidays, but now it’s a health and safety hazard. We had left it open for people to use for free and this is what happens. It’s disgusting.

“The worst thing is we are a community facility and the majority of the community appreciates what they have here, but there seems to be a minority who are determined to ruin it for everyone. We will be locking it up from now on which means no one can use it. ” Claire says the club will now have to fork out more cash to have the turf repaired, but the long term damage is still done.

She added: “We will be able to get it patched up, which will cost money, but the damage is done. Any patches just weakens the turf and makes it less sustainable longterm, which means it will have to be replaced sooner than it would have without burn damage, which again will cost the club even more money.”