Bowling clubhouse trashed by vandals reopens

The club hopes the new facilities will encourage more people to play

Members of a bowling club are back on their favourite green 11 months after vandals trashed their clubhouse.

Trophies and other memorabilia belonging to the Walton Hall Park club in Liverpool were damaged along with the kitchen and other fittings in the attack in September last year.

The clubhouse, which is used by many community groups, has been repaired with the help of Liverpool City Council and Urban Health UK, a local community interest company.

Director Danny Hogan said the community had "rallied round".

The toilets at the club were destroyed in the attack last year

"This is a real community we've got here and they were devastated," he said.

The club set up an online fundraising page which raised £4,500 towards repairs.

"We've been able to put everything back that was destroyed," Mr Hogan said.

"The council have really supported us.

"It's such a community feel here. This is some people's life; some of them come here four or five times a week, it's a family."

Mr Hogan said the club now hoped the new facilities would encourage more people to play crown green bowls.