Bowls club attacked

3:11pm Thursday 29th November 2007

AMBLESIDE Bowls Club has been targeted by vandals for the fourth time in 15 months.

Club members were stunned to discover an empty gas canister left on the premises outside for collection had been hurled through the clubhouse window, and an empty beer barrel had also been thrown through the shed window, causing damage totalling £200.

Only eight weeks ago someone broke in, damaging three doors costing more than £100 to repair - and club treasurer Geoff Harris said the club now had more doors and windows boarded up than not. "It would have taken two people to throw the gas cylinder through the window because it's over four feet long and heavy to lift - but why do they keep targeting us?

"It's not as if we've fallen out with anyone. This is the fourth time in 15 months, yet before then we'd not had any trouble whatsoever for over 20 years. It's getting beyond a joke now - we're anything but wealthy, and with the cost of insurance and maintenance of the green, we just about break even and hold our own financially.

"We try our best as a club to provide a bit of enjoyment for everyone - we've recently completed work on a disabled access - but it seems the more we try to do for the community, the more these vandals pick on us.

"The entrance was all locked up, so they must have got through a gap in the hedge."

The club has a thriving membership of 60, and members suspect the building is being vandalised in the early hours by local youngsters under the influence of alcohol. Police are investigating the latest incident.

POLICE in Windermere are cracking down on Christmas crime early in a bid to ensure the festive season runs smoothly. PC Kevin Robson told a meeting of Windermere Town Council that Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) had been visiting the town's retail outlets to make owners and staff aware of individuals that had been found shoplifting in nearby towns. He added that the PCSOs had also issued photographs to help shopkeepers recognise potential thieves. Officers have also been ensuring retailers in the Shop Watch scheme, which enables police and shopkeepers to keep in radio contact with one another, have working radios ahead of the busy run-up to Christmas.

POLICE in Kendal are appealing for information after a car roof was scratched causing £300 worth of damage. The incident was reported at 10.45am on Monday (November 26) and involved a Saab 95, which was significantly scratched after traffic cones were placed on its roof. Police said the car was parked at Bellingham Road when the criminal damage happened. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Kendal police on 0845-3300-247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.

POLICE are investigating an incident of criminal damage in Queen's Park in Windermere, which happened during the early hours of November 20. Vandals caused extensive damage to the walls of the cricket pavilion in Queen's Park using red spray paint. Anyone with any information should contact PC Kevin Robson at Windermere Police Station on 0845-3300-247 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.

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