Catapult-wielding thugs damage 12 clubhouse windows of Kennington Juniors Football Club in Ashford

Bosses of a children’s football club say they have been left “saddened and angry” after a dozen of its pavilion windows were damaged by catapult-wielding thugs.

Youths reportedly bombarded the home of Kennington Juniors Football Club this week.

The outfit, which has more than 500 members on its books aged six to 18, saw its clubhouse in Ball Lane targeted with the weapons - something which is believed to have caused about £5,000 worth of damage.

Leigh Knight, who has been a committee member for more than a decade, and her fellow co-chairman John Ebdon say they are at a loss as to why anyone would carry out the act, which saw the damage discovered by dog walkers on Thursday lunchtime.

Ms Knight, 46, from Hinxhill, said: “Kennington Juniors Football Club is extremely saddened and angered to report our pavilion was subjected to mindless vandalism.

“It provides changing facilities for our club members on match days and to see a facility used and valued by so many treated with such complete disregard is incredibly disappointing.

“The damage caused not only creates unnecessary expense and additional work for our volunteers, but also takes away from the time, energy, and resources which should be dedicated to providing football opportunities for our children.

“We simply cannot understand why anyone would think this behaviour is acceptable. These facilities belong to the community, and ultimately it is our children who suffer as a result of such senseless actions.

“But Kennington Juniors is built on community, respect and togetherness, and we will not allow mindless acts like this to undermine everything our volunteers, players, and families work so hard to achieve.”

Police are investigating the incident and believe it happened