A car has been spotted 'doing doughuts' and churning up the surface of a football pitch, causing local matches to be called off. The silver vehicle was seen tearing up the turf at King George V playing fields in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, yesterday (Sunday, July 24).
Video footage of the incident - which coincided with the arrival onto the site of a traveller encampment - was posted on social media, provoking an angry reaction from locals. However, the eight second clip has since been removed from the Caldicot Community Facebook page following numerous "offensive" and "abusive" comments.
Partly home to grassroots football club Caldicot AFC, various fixtures and training sessions had to be called off due to the disruption and damage caused to the council-owned space. A statement from the club was posted online shortly afterwards.
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It read: "Today we had some unwelcome guests turn up on our junior football pitch. The guests are currently ruining (with quad bikes, etc.) the football pitch, which had been marked ready for children's games.
"We are very disappointed to now have to cancel those games and all club team training on that pitch until the matter is resolved. The club is currently working with the local authorities and police to resolve the matter."
The post added that a decision was still to be made about whether a reserve fixture and a first team friendly, both planned for later this week, would go still go head.
A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: "We are aware of an encampment on George V playing fields, Caldicot. We are working with the local council and are responding to concerns raised by the local community. Anyone with concerns can contact us at any time via our website, on social media or calling us by dialling 101."
Monmouthshire County Council added that it was "engaged with the travelling community present" and is "actively working with community representatives and partner agencies."
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