A councillor has spoken of his fears that yobs might turn a multi-million pound sport and recreation facility into a ‘mud-bath’.

Fences at the Barkerend Road entrance to Myra Shay have been deliberately ripped down by vandals to make a wider access for vehicles to enter the site.

Councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq (Lab, Bradford Moor) said: “The vandalism in itself is bad enough but I fear that the real motive is to make it possible to get quad bikes and cars through the entrance.

‘‘If this is the case it would have a devastating effect on the grassed areas. The cricket season is about to get into full swing and the last thing we need is to have the pitch turned into a mud-bath.

“It is so frustrating and disappointing, so many years of hard work and effort went into transforming this site yet we are fighting a constant battle against a minority of idiots who appear to be hell bent on ruining things for everyone else.’’ The facility was opened in 2006 and cost £2.5 million as a flagship Regen 2000 scheme with football and cricket pitches as well as a children’s play area.

Within a week of it opening vandals caused thousands of pounds of damage after mini-motorbikes churned up the newly-laid pitches, fences were ripped down and saplings were uprooted.

Coun Ghazanfer Khaliq added: “It is a battle that the community cannot afford to lose and I repeat my calls of the past for people to remain vigilant and report any offenders to the police or the Council’s park ranger service.”

The fences have quickly been repaired to stop vehicles gaining access to the site.

Back in October 2006, the Telegraph & Argus reported that an estimated £20,000 worth of damage had been caused as the vandals first hit.

And earlier this year nearby land earmarked for a £1 million sports development at Gilpin Street was blighted by fly-tippers. Bradford Council contractors were brought in to clear up the mess, which cost about £2,000. Work is expected to begin in July on the first phase of the facilities, which will include provision for cricket, football, tennis and athletics.

e-mail: jo.winrow@telegraphandargus.co.uk