A CENTRAL FIFE junior football club have expressed concerns over vandalism and underage drinking that they say has become "a nuisance".

Officials with Kelty Hearts say that their New Central Park ground, Bath Street, has become a "hotspot for anti-social behaviour" and are regularly reporting incidents to police.

Issues that they have identified include youngsters drinking alcohol and breaking the glass, bottles being thrown on the pitch and even an attempt to enter the ground underneath a fence.

The club brought the problems to light on social media after police confirmed enquiries were ongoing into a raid on Crossgates Primrose's Humbug Park last month, which saw thieves steal equipment including a 50" television, soundbars, a petrol strimmer and roofing felt.

The club posted on Twitter: "Kelty Hearts is a hotspot for anti-social behaviour, underage drinking, vandalism every week. Why no spot checks?"

Club treasurer George McTrusty said: "We've had some boys trying to break in underneath a fence, we've had youngsters drinking and causing damage and breaking bottles. We're always reporting it; it usually happens on a Friday or Saturday night and there is a lot of clean up and expense for us.

"It has been happening for at least 2-3 weeks and bottles have been thrown on to the park, and sometimes youngsters are crossing it on their bikes, which can wear out part of the surface. We love the park being used as long as it's used properly, but the vandalism problem is a real nuisance."

He added: "The community centre are supposed to be getting CCTV cameras looking towards the stand and we have regular meetings with them and the police. We have a 30-year lease on the ground which Fife Council asked us to give up so the village could have an all-weather pitch, which we agreed to do.

"It is well used and we've got a great partnership with Dunfermline at the moment where they train on it and their under-20s team play games. It's a great surface for the kids; it's one of the best in Scotland but we don't want it destroyed."

Caine McIntyre, community sergeant for the Cowdenbeath area, said: "The incident in Crossgates was quite isolated and there aren't huge anti-social behaviour concerns we have in Kelty or Crossgates.

"Any youth disorder is discouraged and should be highlighted with community officers."