VANDALS have torn up two football pitches, putting the weekend fixtures of dozens of under eight sides in doubt.

Games in Blackbird Leys Park may have to be moved or postponed after the pitch was churned up by drivers of a car and motorbike.

The incident is believed to have happened on Monday night and council staff are now working flat out to try and fix the pitches, which are covered in skid marks.

Stuart Parsons, the chairman of Oxford Blackbirds Football Club, which plays home matches on the pitches, said it was ‘infuriating’.

He added:” People will always say kids will be kids and they need things to do but it is just idiotic, everyone at the club is absolutely fuming.”

The affected pitches are used by the club’s six under-seven and under-eight teams and 60 children risk missing out.

Mr Parsons said the club had been inundated with offers of help since the damage was discovered and teams in Abingdon have offered use of their facilities.

Linda Smith, Oxford City Council’s executive board member for leisure, said staff were working to repair the pitches and is hopeful that games can go ahead.

Bollards around the park will be replaced to ensure no one can drive on the fields.

Ms Smith said: “We are trying to make sure this can never happen again.

“It is very disappointing that a couple of people would do this much damage and jeopardise the chances of kids who enjoy playing on the site.

“Our staff should be out making improvements to our parks but instead they are having to deal with this.”

Parish councillor, John Dillon, said those responsible had not thought about the consequences of their actions.

He added: “To them it’s just 10 minutes of mindless fun, they probably don’t consider the damage they are doing.”

The club has reported the incident to police.