CHILDREN as young as 10 are being blamed for causing £3,000 damage in an ambush on rival football supporters.
The youngsters threw a hail of bricks and stones at the vehicles containing Port Vale supporters as they drove away from the match with Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night.
Now police are appealing for the public’s help in find the cuprits who targeted the two coaches just after 10pm.
Joan Stanley, a Port Vale club volunteer, said: “These kids should have been in bed at that time of night.
“One saw us coming and went into the bushes and other children came out.
“They threw missiles at our coach.
“The coach following us had two windows broken.
“They broke the outside skin of the double glazing.
“We were able to take the outer glass off and continue.
“But if a brick had gone right through the glass someone could have been seriously hurt.”
Both coaches also suffered dents to their bodywork.
Mrs Stanley added: “I don’t know whether these kids had even been to the football match.
“There is a housing estate across the road from where it happened, they tell me.
“It’s going to get Fleetwood a very bad name.
“We just don’t want it becoming tit-for-tat between supporters.
“People should keep a watch out for their young children.
“Everything was fine at the match and it spoiled a good evening.
“We were going to go through the Illuminations but we had to miss that because we were waiting talking to the police.”
The coach belonged to Bakers Coaches of Burslem.
Manager Dave Machin said: “We have had this before at football matches.
“It doesn’t put me off because this wasn’t football fans, it was young kids.
“The windows are £1,000 each and there is the bodywork on top of that. It isn’t worth claiming on insurance because we have a very big excess – we just have to foot the bill.
“We also lose money because the coaches are out of action while they are off the road.”
The attack happened near the roundabout on Amounderness Way, close to the docks turn-off.
PC Scott McClaren, of Fleetwood Police, said: “I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward and contact the police.
“Fortunately nobody was injured during this attack but there was extensive damage to the coach. The people responsible need to be caught and brought to justice.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Comments