A JOYRIDER took a 16-tonne digger on a rampage around a Worcester golf course, ripping up the fairways, smashing down trees and causing £2,500 worth of damage.

The mindless yob took the 360-degree excavator from a builders’ compound and drove it across football pitches to Perdiswell Park Golf Club, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Large holes were dug into the second and fourteenth fairways and three trees were uprooted while caterpillar tracks churned up the grass of the golf course.

Two other fairways were superficially damaged.

The digger, which was due to be used by Speller Metcalfe in the construction of Worcester’s new £10.4 million swimming pool, was eventually abandoned close to a children’s play area.

Its cab window was smashed during a collision with a tree.

West Mercia Police are investigating the incident, which took place at 11.45pm on Friday (November 13) close to Perdiswell Leisure Centre in Bilford Road.

Repair work to the damaged area has been completed and the golf course remains open.

Security measures at the building site are being reviewed.

A spokesman for Worcester City Council, which owns the golf course, said: “We are very disappointed by this act of vandalism and our teams have worked alongside the building contractor Speller Metcalfe to repair the damage.

“The city council and Speller Metcalfe are fully co-operating with the police in their investigation of this incident and we are urgently discussing security arrangements at the site.”

Des O’Neill, managing director at Speller Metcalfe, said: “We were sorry to hear of the incident that took place at Perdiswell Leisure Centre over the weekend - our first concern being for the safety of local residents and the centre users.

“Speller Metcalfe follow rigorous safety standards and take the security of our sites very seriously, however in this case it is clear that more action needs to be done to ensure this type of incident cannot happen again.

“Our team is already on site reviewing security measures and investigating how these can be improved to suit the centre while also fixing the damage to the golf course.

“We will be working closely with Worcester City Council and if necessary will be in consultation with the police to support any investigation.”

Nobody has been arrested.

Anyone with information should contact West Mercia Police on 101 quoting reference number 0816S131115.