Vandals are scattering vodka bottles, beer cans and fast food boxes over a bowling green in Bradford thanks to a hole in a hedge, it has emerged.

Now Bradford East MP David Ward has visited Bowling Park Bowling Club to listen to the concerns of members and friends of the park in relation to recent incidents of vandalism.

He was contacted by club president Sheila Spencer, who said: “Over the last 16 years we’ve had cars burnt out on the greens, roof tiles smashed with iron grates and great holes dug in the grass, but I’ve never seen litter as bad as it is at the moment.

“There is a great hole in the hedge as the fencing doesn’t reach all the way around and people are just coming in and doing whatever they like. There are empty vodka bottles, drinks cans and other rubbish all over the place.”

She and others met Mr Ward (Lib Dem) to suggest ways the situation could be improved, such as new fencing to block points of entry through the surrounding hedge.

Mr Ward said: “We must ensure that we do all we can to prevent this from happening again so the members can continue to enjoy playing in this beautiful park setting.”

Mrs Spencer added: “I thought the meeting went very well.

“I will go home feeling very positive and really now hope something will get done to prevent vandalism like this happening in the future.”