VANDALS struck twice at an Oxfordshire rugby club at the weekend, causing more than £2,500 worth of damage.

Coaches at Abingdon Rugby Club were shocked to discover someone broke into the club on Friday night, smashing up advertising boards and breaking fences.

But their disappointment turned into anger when vandals returned on Saturday night to wreak more havoc.

Junior club chairman Jeremy Scott said: “On Friday night, someone came along and tried to destroy all our fencing, they smashed up lots of advertising boards and broke one of our banners.

“They also tried to cut off the Abingdon crest on our welcome sign, so they’re obviously proud of where they come from.

“Then the next night they smashed more boards and kicked more fence posts over.”

The club estimates about 20 metres of fence was destroyed, which must be fixed before the rugby season starts again in two weeks.

The damage is expected to cost about £2,500 to repair.

Mr Scott said: “That is money we just can’t afford to spend. We were hoping to spend money on our mini rugby, the younger teams, but now all the money will have to go on this instead.

“The club also has a bit of a problem with subsidence on the pitches and we hoped to do something about that, but that will have to go on hold too.”

The community club has more than 250 members, three senior sides and more junior sides.

This is not the first time vandals have struck at the club, with vandals trying to steal the Abingdon crest from the ground about two months ago.

Mr Scott said: “All our money is raised by selling tea and coffee to parents on the day and doing things, like when some blokes climbed the three peaks last year.

“We’ll have to think of a way to stop this happening.

“But in the meantime we’ll concentrate on getting everything fixed and ready for next season.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.