A GANG of vandals left a trail of destruction as they raced around a golf course in hotwired buggies - in scenes reminiscent of the anarchic film Jackass.

Shocked club officials yesterday discovered four of their new golf buggies worth £5,000 each had been wrecked.

The vandals, who struck overnight at the Consett and District Golf Course, in Consett, County Durham, had smashed through fences, demolished flags, knocked over saplings and left skid marks on the greens.

Head greenkeeper David Jobey said: "I went to see the Jackass movie version of the anarchic television series which featured people racing buggies and smashing each other on a golf course.

"I thought to myself it would only be a matter of time before someone tried it. Now it has happened and unfortunately it was us.

"I am angry. The people who did this can only be described as mindless idiots."

The gang entered the grounds of the course next to former Shotley Bridge Hospital and found four buggies, which were locked and secure.

The buggies cannot be started up by key so the vandals smashed the dashboards of the vehicles and hotwired them. Some of the buggies, costing about £5,000 each, will have to be replaced as well.

Mr Jobey said: "When I arrived, I had just put up a sign saying "no buggies" on the course because of weather conditions - then I made the discovery."

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Hinton on 01207 504204.