MEMBERS of a Dalton sports facility have been left furious after it was discovered that vandals had targeted the grounds.

Dalton Cricket Club chairman Stan Jones was at the club yesterday morning when he was made aware that a hut on the clubs bowling green had been vandalised.

He said: “I was down the green to put the flag away which had been at half mast for a passed member and I hadn’t realised that there was damage to a past members bench which is literally unrepairable, and litter strewn in the hut, and there were signs of illegal drugs like weed.

“In a month’s time when the clocks go forward and the nights are better and everything improves with Covid, there will be people down there practising cricket and bowls and this seems to keep [vandals] away. But during these dark and wet nights there’s nobody there and they just seem to think they’re entitled to use it as a den.”

It is not the first time that members of the club have come across items believed to be drug related.

On one occasion, a weighing scale was discovered underneath the grounds’ smoking area.

Due to the grounds not having CCTV coverage, they have not been able to report the culprits.

Dalton Cricket Club has now made the decision to install CCTV and ramp up security measures.

Mr Jones said: “I’ve locked all of the gates today, and I just hope that it is enough of a deterrent to keep them away.

“Two of the lads have put chicken mesh wire up along the full length of the adjoining wall which separates the cricket field and bowling green.

“Society is just awful when you have got to do these things. All we can do is hope for best.”

On social media, Dalton Cricket Club confirmed that cameras will be installed this week and anyone caught trespassing will be prosecuted.