VANDALS caused thousands of pounds of damage after ripping apart a horse jump and setting fire to it.

The wing from one of the jumps at Pitchcroft, Worcester, was torn off and carried to the river Severn where it now lies on the riverbank.

The second jump on the home straight was then torched and flames could be seen from Sabrina Bridge, from where a member of public called the fire service. A crew from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service went to the racecourse just before 11pm and doused the flames.

Tim Radford, estate manager at Worcester Racecourse, said staff were fed up with the constant vandalism at the racecourse.

“Every other week we have large amounts of running rail knocked down and historically we have had a hurdle set on fire,” said Mr Radford. “It is very time-consuming for me. The last thing we want to be doing is running around and doing needless jobs.

“It is not going to stop racing, we are going to carry on. The damage these kids are doing is pointless and it has cost a lot of money.” Mr Radford said that CCTV images of the incident, which happened between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Monday, are being studied and the damage is estimated to cost around £4,000. “It has been reported to the police and we will take this through the courts,” he said.

“It could be classed as criminal damage and in the past we have pursued a couple of youngsters through the courts.” West Mercia Police are investigating a report of criminal damage.