EMBARRASSED Bewdley Town were forced to abandon their West Midlands League match with Smethwick Rangers at half time after discovering their generator had been vandalised.

The damage wasn't discovered until club officials went to reconnect the battery during the interval only to find various wires and fuel pipes had been ripped out.

Bewdley secretary Steve Godfrey said: "We were none the wiser until someone went to switch the floodlights on and realised what some lowlife had done.

"The referee was very good and delayed the game while we tried to repair the damage.

"We nearly got them going at one point but eventually at 4.35pm, the ref called a halt.

"Some club members went down to the ground on Sunday morning and finally got the lights back working again, for which we are very grateful."

It's not the first time that Bewdley's Ribbesford Meadow ground has been targeted.

Earlier in the season the ground was broken into and thieves stole two mowers and a water pump.

On another occasion, intruders broke into the clubhouse and ransacked the bar.

Godfrey said: "Everytime we have an incident like this, it hits the club hard financially.

"I don't know how much it cost to get the generator working again but thankfully we managed to keep the bill down by doing it in house."

The game with Smethwick has now been rearranged for February 5. The score was 1-1 at the time play was halted.