VANDALS have carved swearwords into the turf of Southchurch Park Bowls Club's green - the latest in a spate of attacks The incident came days before Southend's mayor Daphne White was to visit the club to launch its outdoor season.

The vandals also tried to kick in the pavilion door, denting it and damaging the locks.

When they failed to break the locks, they are believed to have used a knife or similar sharp object to carve offensive words, in foot-high letters, on the bowling green.

Club chairman Chris Petty-Mayor spent the days in the run-up to Saturday's mayoral visit desperately working to repair the damage and make the clubhouse presentable again.

He said: "I'm sure they must have used some sort of knife to carve these words into the green.

"I can't repeat the words, because they were so offensive.

"The greenkeepers have been very good to us, but I've been here since 6am every day.

"Luckily, the mayor's visit on Saturday went very well and she officially opened our season by bowling the first wood, to start the first game."

Mr Petty-Mayor added: "We keep getting vandalised.

"We've had graffiti sprayed on the roof. They've been scrambling over the roof and I'm sure neighbours of the park or dog walkers would have heard or seen something. I hope they will report it to the police."

The club estimates the damage to the green and the door cost about £200 to put right.

Anyone with any information about the incident, between 10pm on Sunday, April 20 and 5pm on Monday, April 21, is asked to call 0300 333 4444, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.