Two cricket clubs are calling for tough action after being plagued by terrifying attacks by young vandals.

Both Shipley Providence Cricket Club, in Coach Road, Baildon, and Saltaire Cricket Club, based in Roberts Park, have suffered vandalism, damage, abusive language and motorcyclists abusing their grounds in the last few weeks.

In one incident a young girl was hit on the head by stones thrown by the youths. In another, youths on motorcycles terrified groundsmen by riding directly at them.

Trustee at Shipley Providence Cricket Club Colin White was one of the men challenged.

He said: "We were marking out the square, ready for the season. We looked up and saw lads at the side of the ground revving up their quad bikes and motorcycles. Next thing they were tearing down the slope, straight at us, and rode across the square.

"We were standing in about 20 yards square and we couldn't run for cover because they were all around us. All we could do was stand our ground."

Billy Ricketts, a committee member for Saltaire Cricket Club, said the park had been beset with vandals destroying flowers, spraying graffiti, shouting abuse and throwing stones at park users.

In a recent incident a young girl visiting the park with her family from Kent was hit on the head by stones thrown by the youths.

Mr Ricketts said the club was working closely with local schools to identify the culprits.

He said: "They are just mindless morons. They are ruining all the work we are doing to refurbish the park.

"The schools are doing everything they can but what we want to see is the police going into the schools collecting names and addresses of the pupils. We want them prosecuted or given an anti-social behaviour order to keep them out of the park."

Howard Clayton, administration officer for Yorkshire Cricket Board and secretary of the Airedale and Wharfedale Senior Cricket League, said some clubs were experiencing trouble.

He said: "One club in Leeds had to close because of repeated vandalism. It's not just the fact the club has to repair things, they have to repair them time and time again. It has a dispiriting affect on club officials, must of whom are volunteers."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "We would urge anyone who witnesses people committing acts of vandalism anti-social and criminal behaviour to report them." Anyone with information is asked to contact the Neighbourhood Policing Team on (01274) 537454.