Vandals set synthetic football pitch on fire

Police want to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident. Picture: Michael Gillen

Wheelie bins were set ablaze at Xcite sports centre ruining almost 40 square metres of the pitch surface.

Bathgate Thistle Community Club coach Alan Bishop was shocked by the damage and said players would struggle to find somewhere to practise if the damage was not repaired quickly.

More than 300 players from the club rely on the facility.

The Sunday League has already been cancelled for the foreseeable future, but two sevens pitches are still in use

But Xcite said they expected the pitch to be out of action for a “significant period of time”.

Police want to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, thought to have taken place between 11pm last Wednesday and 6am the next day.

Inspector Drew Elliot described the attack as a “senseless piece of vandalism”.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101.