Benfleet Bowls Club members rallied round to make sure their green was fit to play on after vandals struck.

The yobs dragged concrete furniture across the green denting and cutting the turf on Saturday night.

They also smashed empty vodka bottles over the 12-rink green and made off with a plaque and rose planted in memory of former club chairman Dougie Dyer.

However, members cleared the glass at the Brook Road green on Sunday morning to allow play to commence.

"The vandalism does not deter the club because we had a few members who came in and got it going so we could play on Sunday," said club chairman Dennis Shrubshall.

"It is an ongoing thing. They play football on the green and ride their bikes through the flower beds.

"But why anyone would want to rip up the plaque and rose I do not know."

Mr Shrubshall said the green is protected by a fence and a hedge, but the vandals just climb over these.

"What we should have is an electrified fence," he joked, adding that the club's greenkeeper is now assessing the damage and making repairs.

Benfleet has six rinks each way on the green. One rink was damaged one way and two the other.

The damage did not affect last night's taster sessions for would-be bowlers aged between 12 and 18.

If you would like to join the sessions, which run between 6 and 7.30pm, contact Mr Shrubshall on 01268 792081 for more information.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.