A JUNIOR club's football field that has been targeted by vandals is to be protected with a new fence.

The extra security will be put up around the Weston Lane Juniors playing field in Otley mid-November in an attempt to deter mindless attacks by hooligans.

Weston Lane Juniors Sports and Social Club’s training area was badly cut up when at least one car repeatedly drove over it earlier this year.

The incident was similar to an attack four years earlier, when the club’s playing pitch was targeted.

Otley Liberal Democrat councillor Sandy Lay has welcomed the news. He has been working with the club’s chairman, Carl Laurenson, to identify funding. After several discussions with council officers, Leeds City Council submitted a bid to the Football Association for a grant, and Cllr Lay negotiated an agreement from the local authority’s housing advisory panel to foot the rest of the bill.

Cllr said: "I am so pleased by this news.

"I received an e-mail to say the fence is funded and the materials ordered. Those are due to arrive by the second week in November, when the council will come out and build the fence.

"This will only be a low fence and will still allow residents to enjoy the greenery while keeping it safe from thoughtless vandalism. The club and I have been searching for a solution for some time and I am pleased things are finally starting to move forward."

After funding was agreed earlier this year, he said: "A low fence should discourage most of the issues, while still allowing residents to overlook the pleasant green space."

The green, used by a junior sports club, had been badly damaged when it was targeted by vandals, who repeatedly drove over it in January.

The attack missed the playing pitch itself but the club had to cancel training sessions and search for alternative sites.

The clubhouse suffered an arson attack in 2000, which caused damage costing thousands of pounds to repair.

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