VANDALS have plagued Bury FC's stadium in the past few weeks which have led to two fires, smashed windows and doors being ripped off.

Staff and volunteers have dealt with numerous clean-up operations at Gigg Lane after yobs have forced entry into the ground and started fires in the control room and the 1885 bar near the boardroom.

Not content with arson, the louts have ripped off doors and smashed windows with incidents happening days apart.

Martin Kirkby, 49, from Bury, who was taken on by the club to be its bar manager in 2018, has been doing maintenance work since the Shakers were thrown out of the football league.

He said: "Since we had played our last game we have not had problems other than the last three or four weeks.

"It's just got to the stage where they have caused a considerable amount of damage.

"It is absolutely heart-wrenching.

"They should have some respect, the club is a community hub.

"I was down at the ground last Sunday to board up windows after they were damaged over the weekend and on Monday evening they had been in again so all the hard graft to secure the building was lost.

"Then on Wednesday I got into the reception area at around 8.30pm and I could smell a fire.

"I got myself out of there and notified the emergency services.

"There was a fire in one of the bars and a water pipe exploded. Luckily the water doused the fire.

"Recently there was another fire after a break-in at the control room and a filing cabinet was set alight but luckily it did not spread.

"They have also broken windows, ripped doors off ransacked rooms in the stadium.

"It is a crying shame that this has all happened after everything the club has been through in the last two years."

Martin has also praised volunteers and fellow staff members for their work following the damage.

He added: "Volunteers have been wanting to come in and help board up the window.

"There is a strong community spirit here."

Security has been stepped up following the break-ins and fires in a bid to prevent damage being caused.

If you have any information about any of the incidents contact police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.