MORE than £1,500 was raised within 24 hours by generous donors to help a Bromsgrove junior sports club after its base was targeted by 'mindless and selfish' hoodlums.

Bromsgrove Sporting Colts FC estimates the weekend break-in at its Barnsley Hall playing fields home has caused damage that will cost £3,000 to repair.

But kindly friends of the club - including parents of youngsters who play for the club - have already pledged more than half that total.

"It's absolutely incredible, we're completely overwhelmed," said Colts treasurer Matt Hare of the amount of donations made here.

"To have raised that amount in such a short space of time is fantastic."

The robbery - in which a grass cutter was stolen along with confectionery from the club kitchen - is believed to have happened on Saturday night (June 27).

The intruders ripped a window shutter off the wall, trashed the frames and locks on two high-security doors and broke into the storage unit.

Mr Hare said he felt the incident was the culmination of growing problems on the fields during the recent coronavirus lockdown.

He added: "With the Covid situation, we've noticed gangs of youths starting to gather down there.

"It's a big, open space and that is what people have been craving, even though it is private property.

"Some people have used it the right way but the minority have been leaving a lot of litter."

He added that the police had been called on several occasions in recent weeks - and that the extent of the damage caused indicated it had been a pre-meditated crime.

"They must have brought equipment with them," Mr Hare added. "Because you don't take off those metal doors with just something you have on you."

He hopes the funds raised will help the club reopen quickly for its youngsters, who range in age from four to 14.

"We don't want the kids to miss out with football starting back up again," he added. "Some of them have seen the pictures and are devastated."

West Mercia Police have appealed for anyone with any information to call 101 quoting 22/53239/20.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit their website at https://crimestoppers-uk.org.

PC Hillbrook said: "This is a mindless and selfish crime and will not be tolerated.

"The destruction of this community based centre by these vandals has caused a lot of understandable upset and anger locally at an already challenging time for the community.

"We have launched an investigation and are asking local residents to help by contacting us if they are aware of any suspicious activity in or around the centre over the weekend."