A Rayleigh golf club is counting the cost of a spree of vandalism in which eight golf carts were hot-wired and ridden roughshod over a course.

Wrecked - head greenkeeper Ivor Pallett with one of the carts. Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL 5QGNU2

Police are now hoping information from the public will help catch those responsible for the damage caused at the Hanover Golf Club in Hullbridge Road.

The spree took place on Sunday night when the vandals broke into a compound at the club and drove the carts around the course, leaving them in lakes and ditches.

Staff have since been trying to recover the carts - which cost £3,000 each - and assess the damage to the Georgian course, which suffered the worst vandalism.

Chris Rickards, receptionist at the club, said: "Excessive damage has been caused to the Georgian course.

"Somehow during the night the compound was broken into and they hot-wired the carts and drove them up into the lakes and ditches.

"Parts of the grounds have been damaged and a lot of the trees have been mowed down and some of the grounds will be out of action while they are being repaired."

Mrs Rickards said that the total estimate of damage was still being calculated as grounds staff made their inspections.

A spokesman for Rayleigh police has appealed for anyone to come forward with information about who was involved in causing all this damage.

He said: "We would like to know if there are any teenagers out there who came home that night, perhaps after being to the pub, who might have got themselves muddy doing this."

Anyone with information should contact Rayleigh police on 01268 775533 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Published Friday December 28, 2001