Builth Wells Football Club has installed security cameras at its ground following a series of vandalism incidents.

The Lant has been subject to damage and littering in recent months leaving a mess on match days, says the club committee.

Club committee members have found a hole in the roof of the stand and damage to wooden panelling during pitch side inspections before a home match.

The committee has now decided to put in CCTV cameras at the stand and clubhouse in a bid to catch the culprits.

Around £1,000 has been spent on the new security cameras which are connected to smartphones and the footage is then sent to police.

Chairman Chris Jones said he is hoping the cameras will put an end to the problem.

“We don’t want to stop the fun but we don’t want things broken and vandalised,” he said.

“We’re not here to prosecute people. All we want is for people to take their rubbish home or put it in the bins.

“Hopefully the cameras will be a warning to others to stop vandalising the stands.”

The committee said the incidents happen when there are social gatherings in the town.

“There’s no where for them to go,” Chris said.

“There’s a lack of youth centres in Builth. They’re at an age where they’re too young to go out to the pubs and too old to stay indoors. There aren’t many places where they can go so they come to The Lant.”

In August, smashed glass was found on the pitch which almost led to a Builth Wells FC match being called off.

The club said it would look into security measures to prevent broken glass being repeatedly found on the pitch. It considered installing security shutters to box off people from using the stands; which is due to have new seating before the start of the next football season.

Speaking at the time, Chris said: “We have to be extra cautious when we’re looking for glass because they’re easily hidden in the grass. If someone were to get hurt or injured, it would be awful.”

The cameras were installed by Builth Wells-based firm and club sponsors C R Security on Tuesday, January 15.