PRANKSTERS have hi-jacked a piece of Worcester City Football Club's pitch, leaving a message in a bottle in its place.

The club, based in St George's Lane, discovered one of the penalty spots missing yesterday -and it is now being "held to ransom".

"The groundsman went out in the early afternoon and saw that there was a hole where the penalty spot should have been at the Canal End," said Steve Bond, the club's football secretary.

"In its place was a milk bottle, which contained a note."

The note read: "We are holding your penalty spot to ransom. It's now in a good home."

The thieves had cut out a piece of turf about four inches deep around the penalty spot.

The hole has been replaced with topsoil and fresh grass ahead of Saturday, Salisbury City will be the visitors.

"It was done very neatly," said Mr Bond, who added that the club, which plans to move from central Worcester to the eastern outskirts if city councillors give permission, had never fallen victim to a similar prank before.

He said he had no idea who was responsible for the theft.

Speculation includes the theory that it may have been the work of disgruntled fans who watched the Dr Martens League Premier Division side slump to a 3-2 defeat on Tuesday night following a spell of good form.

Prior to the match in Bath - the eighth consecutive time that Worcester City had failed to beat their West Country rivals, who trounced them at the Twerton Park ground - Worcester City had won four out of five games.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing piece of St George's Lane pitch can call the Evening News on 01905 748200 ext 271.