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Support for sports ground targeted by vandals

Matthew Sach An image taken inside the damaged toilet block. Soap dispensers and six sinks have been smashed off the wall and lay broken on the floor. There is blue paper roll strewn across the ground in wet piles. Matthew Sach
Vandals broke into the sports ground and destroyed the toilet block

The boss of a sports ground targeted by vandals has said he has received offers of help from the community to rebuild a damaged toilet block.

The amenities at Imperial Sports Ground in Bristol were broken into and "ripped and smashed" to pieces on Tuesday.

General manager Matthew Sach was "completely gutted" when he saw the CCTV footage of the incident and said his heart sank when he thought about how it would affect the 500 kids who use the site for football and rugby training.

However, he said he had been "blown away" by "phenomenal support" from residents.

The toilet block cost about £6,000 to build and was put in place so young people did not have to cross the road to use facilities on the main site.

The vandalism is being investigated by police.

Mr Sach said he put a video of the destruction on social media to raise awareness about how the issue was affecting recreational sports grounds.

"This stuff happens, were not the first and won't be the last," he said.

"Everything was destroyed in there. Even the cubicles were ripped down, everything that's fixed to the wall has been ripped up and smashed."

Matthew Sach An image taken inside the destroyed toilet block. There are three cubicles which have has their doors smashed off the hinges. There is a large hole punched through the wall and there are sinks, urinals and soap dispensers laying on the floor. There is rubbish and blue paper roll strewn all over the floor in wet piles.Matthew Sach
The vandals caused damage to the walls, cubicle doors, urinals, sinks and toilets

Mr Sach said he has since received offers of help from local residents to help rebuild the facility.

"I was worried all the money we spent on the block last year was wasted, but the phenomenal support from the public means we can get this facility back up and running," he said.

Matthew Sach Matthew standing to the right of a large sign on a white wall that reads "Imperial Sports Ground"Matthew Sach
Mr Sach said he was "blown away" by offers of help

"Were getting brand new locks and external plumbing work needs to be done before we can start rebuilding it."

Mr Sach said there is "no real time scale", but hoped the toilet block would be reopened within six weeks.

Avon and Somerset Police have appealed for anyone with information that could assist their enquiries to get in touch using the reference number 5225100260.

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