OFFICIALS at a Tranent football club have expressed their concerns after a break-in at their home ground.

Foresters Park, home to Tranent Juniors FC, was broken into between Friday and Saturday, June 17-18. Damage was caused and some items, including cans of juice, were taken.

Police Scotland confirmed to the Courier there had been a break-in.

The incident is not the first time the home of the new South Division champions has been targeted, and is frustrating club officials.

Robert McNeill, secretary, brought the issue up at a meeting of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council, where he is also a member.

Mr McNeill told the meeting: “It is the third time it has happened now.

“Stuff was taken and the advertising boards have been kicked from the fences round the pitch.

“The club has contacted [leisure services managers] enjoyleisure to voice its concerns, because it’s no longer just for Tranent Juniors, it’s a facility for the whole community.”

Local community police offer Garrett Hughes said officers had been attending the park, but added he would look at the problem area further over the summer.

He added: “It is an area that we look at, but I will bring it up again and see if we can do something more about it.”

Meanwhile, Bill Axon, general manager at enjoyleisure, told the Courier: “I am appalled by these acts and, instead of celebrating the ongoing success of Foresters Park, we are again discussing such intolerable deeds.

“I appreciate these actions are not a reflection of the community of Tranent as a whole and the overwhelming majority share our disgust.

“It is vital that everyone who witnesses such vandalism or has concerns phones the police immediately – if the police do not know, they cannot act.”

PC Sean Davidson, from Musselburgh Police Station, said: “This community facility has been deliberately targeted and I’m keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen or heard anything suspicious.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or make an anonymous report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.