Police probe £10k theft from junior football fund

In a statement Vauxhall Motors FC said it was "shocked and disappointed"

A junior football team's dream of playing in a tournament abroad was left in tatters when families discovered the £10,000 raised towards it appeared to have been stolen.

Youngsters who play for Vauxhall Motors FC's Astra Under-10s team in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, were set to depart for the trip to Barcelona on Monday.

But at the weekend, families are understood to have learned the money they had raised through sponsored events had not been received by the tournament's organisers.

Cheshire Police said a 38-year-old man from Ellesmere Port has been arrested on suspicion of theft.

Vauxhall Motors FC said it was "shocked and disappointed" to hear what had happened.

In a statement, it said "the individual involved in organising this trip to Barcelona acted completely independently from the football club, and did not consult with the club regarding the financial arrangements of the trip".

The statement added: "This is extremely disappointing for those involved, especially after the efforts and fundraising the children and parents have gone to, to make this trip possible."

In a post on social media, a parent of one of the junior football team members said she was "heartbroken" after being told the trip to Barcelona was cancelled.

She said the young players had climbed Moel Famau while dribbling footballs to raise money, and parents had bought the youngsters matching tracksuits and trophies out of their own pockets.

Over £8,000 has been raised through a fundraising page set up for the team following the news the trip could not go ahead.