YOUNG footballers were gutted to discover their pitches had been destroyed by reckless scrambler bikes.

Junior football teams who play on Halton Council’s Arley Drive playing fields in Hough Green are appalled at the damage that has been caused.

One angry player tweeted this picture of the churned up ground, saying: “This is what young kids near me have to contend with! Disgusting! Surely all council pitches should be fenced off now!”

Halton Cllr Phil Harris, board member for sport, said: “We have been made aware of the damage that has been done at Arley Drive. It will be very costly and difficult to fix.

"Until we have a prolonged period of dry weather we will not be able to make effective repairs.

"Riding scrambler bikes on playing fields, parks or other green spaces is illegal and the matter has been reported to the police.

“We would urge any person who sees a scrambler bike on any open space to report it to the police."