A COMMUNITY football club has been forced to sign up the long arm of the law to save changing rooms that haven't even been finished yet.

Officials at Brendon FC fear bored youngsters responsible for vandalising fences and a disused cricket pavilion will target their property.

Chairman Derek Caplen has enlisted the help of police crime reduction officers to try to stop the yobs before they trash the club's changing rooms and toilet block - which are currently undergoing renovation.

Efforts to make the club's Test Park ground in Millbrook, Southampton, secure have become priority after adjacent fields have become a dumping ground for stolen cars.

Mr Caplen said: They haven't managed to get into our ground yet but this is the third time they have rammed the fence by the gate and, if they do eventually manage to get in, it will have a devastating effect."

He is urging residents to report anyone causing damage - before the club faces costly bills for security devices, which could be spent on other things.

Nigel Horton, crime reduction officer at Southampton Central police station, said: "It's the usual story of mindless morons spoiling it for the majority.

"It's a community asset down there and money spent on security could be better spent on providing better training equipment."

The number of abandoned cars in the city is currently topping 100 a week and costs the taxpayer in excess of £100,000 a year.

It is hoped that community projects, like those operating in other parts of the city, can be set up to discourage youngsters from further vandalism.

Councillor Paulette Holt said: "Residents in this area need to continually report vandalism to the police. This is a matter of urgency and we need to catch the people responsible.

"What we've also got are community workers working with young people in other parts of the city and the best thing to do is to get young people involved and to see positive sides of organisations like Brendon.

"Community wardens will be coming on stream soon and hopefully they will have input into monitoring what's going on in the area of Test Park, so this may help a little".

The club has only just managed to get back on its feet after council officials closed down the ground two years ago amid health and safety fears.

The rescue package came after the city's Labour rulers were defeated by Lib Dem and Tory councillors, who helped Brendon secure a £62,000 lifeline and a further £9,000 to repair their vandalised changing rooms.