A CHESTER football team has been left devastated after its club bus was vandalised beyond repair.

The Blacon Youth FC bus, used to transport youngsters to football matches across the region, was subjected to "prolonged" vandalism, believed to be on Saturday night (March 5).

The damage caused by vandals to the Blacon Youth FC bus.

The damage caused by vandals to the Blacon Youth FC bus.

Photos published show the extent of the damage, with windows smashed and the dashboard pulled out, with wires sprawled everywhere.

The bus had been given to the club by Highfield Community Primary School.

Ian Tyrrell, speaking on behalf of the club, said: "We are absolutely speechless, really. The mindless vandalism is just devastating.

The damage caused by vandals to the Blacon Youth FC bus.

The damage caused by vandals to the Blacon Youth FC bus.

"The bus was supposed to be used to take young children to Blackpool for their tournaments, and now this has happened, the bus is a write-off and we have to pay for it to be scrapped.

"There is now no way we can use it, we can't afford the cost of the repair.

"It was a back-up vehicle for a fundraiser we had last year, when a group of us did a bike ride around every Premier League ground, where we stored equipment, so it went around with us."

The damage caused by vandals to the Blacon Youth FC bus.

The damage caused by vandals to the Blacon Youth FC bus.

Last year the bus was a back-up for four Blacon friends who completed an 800-mile bike ride, raising £9,000, split between two charities close to their hearts – Stroke Association and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

An investigation into the vandalism is under way, with a report that between six to eight youths were seen in the area on Saturday night.

CCTV footage from the bus is also being obtained so Cheshire Police can investigate.

The damage caused by vandals to the Blacon Youth FC bus.

The damage caused by vandals to the Blacon Youth FC bus.

In response to the news on the Blacon Youth FC Facebook page, several comments enquired about the possibility of raising money for the club.

Ian said the club was in the process of setting up a Justgiving page where people could help.