HARROGATE Cricket Club is reeling from a series of attacks by vandals causing almost £3,000 worth of damage to its headquarters.

Now club chairman Brian Haines has ordered that the main gates at the St George's Road entrance be closed.

Problems for the club surfaced when work started recently to demolish the wooden county grandstand, which is believed to be more than 100 years old. It had long been a meeting place for youths from a wide area.

Recently the ground has come under attack from youngsters who have broken windows, ripped down netting, attacked buildings and sprayed graffiti on them.

Mr Haines said: "It has got to the stage where vandalism has reached unparalleled proportions and, like us, local residents are becoming really upset.

"Although we are insured, all this damage is costing us money and I am afraid it is money we just do not have. We are down to the bone."

The stand is being removed as part of improvements to the ground, in tandem with sporting open space following development of the neighbouring former Ministry of Defence housing scheme.

A pitch is being created for the club by developers Red-row, but this involves knocking down old toilet blocks and impinges on current parking.

Because the club no longer stages first class county matches - Yorkshire pulled out amid an outcry from the town in 1997 - Mr Haines said the 600-seat stand was a white elephant and space created by its demolition would be used for parking.

North Yorkshire Police are investigating the attacks on the ground and are working with the club to try and stem the tide of damage.