An Oxford under-eights football team that had its changing rooms wrecked and equipment burned by vandals has been given a new set by another club which learned of their plight in the Oxford Mail.

Littlemore Youth Football Club has been concentrating on away games after vandals trashed changing rooms and burned goalposts and players' bibs at Herschel Crescent recreation ground last month. The club has been plagued by a series of break-ins.

Then Cumnor Minors Football Club lent them a set of goalposts in time for a home game earlier this month.

And now Abingdon-based St Edmund's Football Club has stepped in with a replacement set for the club to keep.

Paul Anderson, the Littlemore under-eights team manager, said: "We've had such a positive response from people since the Oxford Mail highlighted what happened. When St Edmund's called, I thought they were offering us a loan. I was really pleased when they said we could keep the goals.

"It means we can keep training at home and invite clubs over for competitions again. This means a lot to the children."

Meanwhile, Littlemore Parish Council has agreed to spend £7,000 on repairing the damage.

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