OTLEY Rugby Club is offering a £300 reward to catch vandals who have ruined one of its pitches.

The incident - caught on CCTV by the nearby Stephen H Smith's Garden Centre - happened just after 10pm on Thursday.

Two vehicles went onto the playing and training field, off Pool Road, and proceeded to repeatedly drive over it, leaving deep ruts.

The rugby club, which has reported the attack to the police, says the damage has put the pitch out of action for a long time and left it facing a hefty repair bill.

The club has also put a reward notice up on social media, addressed directly to those responsible, in a bid to track them down.

It says: "£300 REWARD!

"I know you probably have nothing else to do and it is very exciting driving a car round a field but you have ruined the pitch where children, possibly your brother or sister, plays rugby.

"It will cost many hundreds of pounds to put right and that is why we are going to the police.

"The garden centre has you on CCTV and someone knows who you are - that is why we are offering the reward."

Chairman Nick Girling said: "The CCTV at Stephen H Smith's shows what looks like a Fiat 500 and a small 4x4 driving down the lane next to their premises, towards our back training pitch.

"Local residents heard the vehicles at about 10.15pm, on Thursday night but by the time we were able to get there the culprits had gone.

"The pitch is next to the garden centre, set back from the road, and is used for both senior and junior matches and training - but this damage will take about a year to repair itself.

"The police have been informed."

Otley Town Council Chair Councillor Ray Georgeson (Lib Dem, Danefield) said: "I share the anger expressed by Otley Rugby Club at this act of mindless vandalism.

"That pitch is so well used by our community, providing great opportunity for children to have well organised, fun sport.

"I hope those responsible are quickly identified and brought to book."

Otley residents have also been quick to express their condemnation of the vandalism online.

Posting on the Otley - The Community We Live In Facebook page, Suzanne Freer said: "Oh this so saddens me.

"Good people spend a lot of their free time working hard to get pitches in order for others to enjoy and then someone comes along and within seconds it is ruined.

"Really hope you catch him and name and shame him/ her/them.

"Come on you good folk of Otley, someone knows who's done this."

Simon Fisher added: "Make them repair the field when they are found, out of their own pocket and time."