VANDALS have damaged the long-awaited new soccer pitches in Tavistock's Crowndale Valley and attacked contractor's equipment at the site — but this week community-minded youngsters pitched in to help put the work back on track.

The seven new mini pitches had just been seeded by contractors working for Crowndale Recreational Association — they are part of an ongoing project which attracted a grant of more than £20,000 from the Football Association.

But the fragile grass was last week damaged by youngsters playing football on it and even riding a motor bike across the area.

CRA chairman John Warne said recent accidental damage when cows strayed onto the pitch was unfortunate, but the 'irresponsible, mindless attitude' of those who damaged the pitches was 'very disheartening'.

But he said he was extremely encouraged by the responsible attitude of some youngsters who had put themselves out to lend a hand to the contractor at the site.

And CRA committee member Dick Spackman said: 'It's all been freshly seeded and of course, you can't go on it as it's only just started to grow.

'Fortunately with these recent few days of dry weather the ground has dried out tremendously — a week or ten days ago it would have been dreadful.

'The whole purpose of the pitch is to provide facilities for youth football and it's young kids who are down there, messing it up.'

Mr Spackman said the most annoying aspect of the damage was the fact it was 'mindless'.

He said: There are two football pitches laid out with goalposts there — if they wanted a kick around, why not go on one of those pitches?

'We can overcome it but it's the annoyance factor and it's sad they can't think of anything better to do than vandalise things.'

John Churchward, managing director of The Landscape Co (SW) Ltd, which is contracted to lay the new pitch, said the damage was very disappointing.

'It's a very bad start, especially for all the people like John Warne and the CRA who have worked for a long time to raise funds for this.

'It's the mindless vandalism that really gets me.'

Mr Churchward said the windscreen of one of his vehicles was damaged the very first night the company moved on site.

Various incidents have followed, including removal of safety clips and diesel tank caps, plus stones being poured into the tanks.

Mr Churchward said work to repair the pitch would cost around £2,800.

He said: 'The secret of a successful football pitch is not to get on it too soon — the roots are just not strong enough to stand it.

'It was looking beautiful, an emerald green carpet and I can understand people wanting to go on it, but it it just won't take it.'

Mr Churchward said the area by the river is a popular spot for youngsters to go swimming and congregate, but he issued a plea to them to keep off the new pitches and take their rubbish home with them.

'The youngsters that were here last night ended up helping us. They picked up their litter and they were no problem — it's just one or two that make it very difficult for the majority,' he said.

And Mr Churchward paid tribute to the young people who helped him 'stonepick' at the site last weekend.

'They really worked hard,' he said.

He has rewarded them with company T-shirts and hopes they will act as 'custodians' of the pitches.

A police spokesman said regular checks would be made in the Crowndale area to try to prevent any future attacks by vandals.

It is hoped the new soccer pitches at Crowndale will be ready to play on for the start of the 2003/2004 season.