A SPORTS facility could eventually be taken away if young people don’t stop vandalising it, a community leader has warned.

Argoed Community Council has invested thousands of pounds in improving the area around Wat's Dyke Park football pitch in Mynydd Isa.

The works have included new benches, restoring the goalposts in partnership with Flintshire Council and the installation of a panelled metal fence separating the pitch from the area used by dog walkers.

According to cllr John Holiday, chairman of the community council, vandalism has been an ongoing issue - with residents reporting youths damaging the fence on more than one occasion.

The community council has now warned that if the damage doesn't stop, one consideration could eventually be for the goalposts to be removed.

Cllr Holiday said: "The community council installed the fence but the kids have been trying to kick it to bits.

"It has been happening over the last few months - we have had reports from residents.

"We are going to install a stile at the damaged part now so people can go over and get their ball but if it continues after that one consideration will eventually be whether to keep the goalposts.

"In days of austerity we can't afford to keep repairing these things.

"A lot of people enjoy using the benches and it would be such a shame if a few people were to destroy a facility for many.

"The incident has been reported to the police and they have been asked to monitor it."