Vulnerable young football players have been exposed to the risk of horrific injuries after "stupid" thugs littered a Kelvedon Hatch pitch with razor sharp shards of glass.

They have struck Sunday after Sunday over the last five weeks laying a treacherous trail of broken glass before the boys, aged between eight and 13, turn up at for games at the Kelvedon Hatch Junior Football Club at School Road.

Each time they have been confronted with a pitch glittering with menace and now police have condemned the actions of those responsible warning the consequences could be appalling.

James McCayna, who manages one of the youth teams which uses the pitch, is equally angry and convinced it is no mere accident:

He said: "It definitely looks deliberate. It looks as if the glass had been broken before it got here.

"It's absolutely disgusting. The pitch is purely used by children under the age of 13, as anybody who lives in this area knows.

"Even if it is only teenagers mucking about they must realise it's the local youngsters who use it."

Originally concentrated in just one part of the pitch, week by week the area targeted by the unknown vandals has increased, until the glass eventually covered the whole pitch.

But even then the young sportsmen refused to concede defeat and call off their games.

Instead they joined their parents and friends in a 30-strong line of people which slowly swept across the pitch in a police-style search, removing a quarter of a shopping bag full of splinters from the grass so the games could begin.

Local beat officer Pc Paul Jarvis said: "This is something totally new to us, we have not come across anything like this before. It really is stupid. The dangers of doing this on a field where young children are playing are obvious.

"The consequences could be appalling. If anyone knows anything about this they should let us know immediately."

Initially there were fears the attacks could be the work of someone with a vendetta against the club, but this has since been ruled out.

Villagers are now hoping the attacks may have come to an end, after last weekend's matches went ahead unhindered, but they remain on their guard.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.