GANGS of youths up to a hundred strong have wrecked areas of Altrincham Golf Course – causing up to £1,000 damage a time.

The scale of the problem has been laid bare by an Altrincham Golf Course spokesman, whose club is battling a seasonal surge in anti-social behaviour that’s already encouraged the police to warn parents to check on their children’s whereabouts.

A video has emerged of youths vandalising a flag pole – one of numerous offences including arson, assault and under-age drinking that has blighted the course for several weeks.

“For the last couple of weeks we’ve seen an increase of kids coming onto the golf course at night,” said Paul Murray, Altrincham Golf Course manager.

“They have been causing a lot of damage. We’re talking groups of between 20 to 100 kids.

“It’s got worse and worse over the last few weeks. There have been reports of children being drunk and anti social behaviour.

“The biggest thing for us is the damage. It’s costing thousands to repair. It’s putting customers off. They don’t want to play golf at night.

“We sometimes see a rise in this kind of behaviour over summer, but it’s never been this bad before.

“They’re damaging all sorts. The turf and flags and they’re starting fires.”

Paul said the problem had been occurring for the past six to seven weeks and that various public footpaths accessing the course made it almost impossible to keep offenders at bay.

A golfer who wished to remain anonymous filmed some of the anti-social behaviour and sent it to Messenger.

They said: “I am fed up with teenagers running around on the course, stealing flags, having BBQs, drinking and littering.

“I find that if you get your phone out and start filming, they normally start to scatter pretty fast.”

The video follows police pictures showing areas of the course used as fire pits and large groups of children and teenagers roaming the greens and fairways at night.

Nearby playing fields at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College have also seen fire damage

Anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of Altrincham Golf Course should report it to police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.