Owners of a Leigh golf driving range are fed up with thieves breaking in and nicking their balls.

The range on Leigh marshes has been broken into six times in the past few months, causing damage to fences and resulting in the loss of hundreds of golf balls each time.

Ken and Christine Martin, who run the range, believe it is the work of "desperate druggies", despite the balls only being worth a pittance on the black market.

Last year floodlights were stolen from the range and eventually found damaged and beyond repair. The new set were fixed to high posts to deter vandals.

The last attack happened on Friday night, when prowlers cut through fencing and got away with ashtrays and bags full of golf balls.

Mr and Mrs Martin believe it is the work of the same three youngsters each time and have spotted them at work.

Mr Martin said: "We have seen them before under the floodlights but because they were at least 250 yards away we could not get to them."

The balls which are being stolen are white with either blue or green rings and the initials JLS. They cost 50 pence each to replace, costing the Martins hundreds of pounds each time there is a break-in.

They hope that by making it clear that driving range staff are on alert, it will deter any more costly thefts.

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