Teenagers fight with hammers on cricket pitch
Maghull Cricket Club in Merseyside has seen 25 police reports of people harassing players, setting off fireworks and vandalising equipment since July 2024.
Officials say they have suffered years of 'disgraceful incidents' that have left children training at the club in tears.
They now plan to raise money to build a fence that will block violent teenagers from accessing the ground.
Emily Spurrell, Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, told a community meeting that building the fence would help 'design out crime'.
Neil Dutton, the club secretary, told the BBC: 'It's not just kids strolling around and then doing it on a whim. It's like they're coming to the cricket club to cause trouble.
'I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if some kids did not come back and I couldn't blame the parents either.
'It hurts our standing within the league we play in and it's not a good look for us or the community as a whole.'
Practice had to be abandoned
Earlier in May, around 50 children aged nine to 13 were waiting to play cricket when a fight broke out between teenagers on the pitch.
The practice had to be abandoned and the children were escorted to safety, officials said on the club's Facebook page.
They wrote: 'Sadly, we must report to the people of Maghull another in a long list of disgraceful incidents that have blighted our club for several years.
'Tonight, during a junior section practice evening, a number of youths have congregated on our pitch and engaged in organised fighting, delaying the start of the session.
'A short while later, more youths appeared, fighting and threatening each other with hammers, knives, a garden spade and a stump stolen from our practice area.'
Club chairman Adam Lloyd told the BBC the fight had been 'traumatising' for those who witnessed it.
'The kids had never seen anything like it before, some were crying,' he said.
'It's a family club – when I was a kid my dad dragged me along to the cricket – his dad was the same. I've got my kids playing cricket, we are all invested in this club because we love doing it.'
Truly terrifying
A mother who witnessed the fight said: 'I was there this evening with my eight and 10-year-old. It was truly terrifying.
'I would like to just say a massive thank you to the adults, especially the men/fathers, involved with the club, who quickly stepped in ushering the children to safety and stepping in bravely to defend them if needed. You didn't hesitate to take action and it didn't go unnoticed.'
Merseyside Police said that a 14-year-old male from Maghull, who was arrested on suspicion of affray, possession of weapon in a public place and possession of a controlled Class B drug, had been released under investigation.
A 17-year-old male from Kirkby later attended a voluntary interview in connection with being in possession of cannabis and a public order offence.
A police investigation is continuing.
Bill Esterson, Labour MP for Sefton Central, said the fight was a 'real wake-up call' that was 'disturbing and hugely upsetting for the children playing cricket'.
He told the BBC: 'Thankfully the adults intervened and prevented something much worse from happening. Goodness knows what would have happened if people had used the weapons they were carrying.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fury over newly installed 'killer kerb' causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars daily
Drivers are furious with a council over a new foot-high 'Killer Kerb' which has caused thousands of pounds of damage to cars. The new installation was designed to create a 'more welcoming environment for pedestrians' but has instead become so notorious that it has been listed as a tourist attraction on Google Maps. It has caused so much damage that a Facebook page has been dedicated to the carnage it has caused. The Lib Dem-led Wiltshire Council was built in October 2024 as part of a £3.2 million project. It was 'renewed' last year under a scheme the county council said would 'create a more welcoming environment for pedestrians' when they walk towards the city centre from the railway station. One video of a car bumping over the kerb had been viewed more than one million times on social media. Since it was installed the council has faced a slew of compensation claims from motorists who have damaged their vehicles on the kerb. However, some locals say that the drivers are themselves to blame. The 'killer kerb 'sits around 100 metres from Salisbury train station in Wiltshire at a mini roundabout at the junction of two major roads. Since opening in October 2024 eight compensation claims relating to it have been made compared to zero in the three previous years. Tom Curtress, 34, from Berkshire, is one of several people who have damaged their cars on the kerb. He said: 'It will be two new doors and some panel work. It's not exactly a bit of varnish and some paint work. 'Other people will do the same thing; they will have a great weekend, drop someone off at the station and then prang their car.' After hitting the kerb in his Ford Focus in March he noticed a BMW do something similar 15 minutes later. He added: 'That BMW car door's going to cost more than a Ford Focus one. 'It was an identical issue, coming from the station. It's not just causing a little scuff. It's causing dents. 'If you drive from the station, you can't see the kerb from the driver's side. It's a tight turn and you don't want to go into the oncoming traffic. 'I took one video where around 50 percent of the cars, to avoid it, had their driver's side on the other side of the road.' Retired military pilot Anthony D'Arcy-Irvine, 82, caused £4,000 worth of damage after hitting his Volkswagen on the kerb in June. When he took his car to the garage he was told he was the 'third car that day'. Mr D'Arcy-Irvine, from Enford, Wilts, said of the incident that led to the damage: 'I was going to get crushed. If I had stayed where I was, I would have been hit by the vehicle coming the other way. 'I have lived in Salisbury for 50 years and I have used that roundabout regularly, I think it is very badly marked. 'When you pull out of the way of a truck coming the other way, there's not sign of where it is. You cannot see it. Other people have rung me and said the same thing. 'Wiltshire Council and Highways have a responsibility to make sure it is safe for driers as well, and it isn't. They have a duty of care for road users.' Heather Armstrong, who owns nearby Gullicks Florists, added: 'Literally everyday a vehicle will go into the kerb and people get stuck on it. 'If someone gets stuck on there it does cause problems with traffic building up. 'I know it's there, so I know to pull out further. For some people, it's not that visible. 'When there was a railing there it gave some more guidance. You have to swing out the other way, and sometimes with traffic coming the other way, that's not possible.' One Facebook page dedicated to the kerb has over 4,200 members, more than 10 percent of the historic city's population. However, viewers are split over who to blame for the damage. One commentator, Jo Earley, saying 'Can we stop blaming the kerb and start blaming the idiots behind the wheel?' Another user, Patrick Day, commented: 'This group isn't for 'victims'. It's for people to laugh at the ones who can't drive and mount it.' However Jonathan Hodgetts wrote: 'Installing a curb like this is crazy but I am amazed people get caught so often. Mind you we all make mistakes so must not be too critical.' One anonymous user said: 'You should have your licence taken away from you if you can't negotiate a corner, dumbass.' Samantha Stokes added: 'Far too much time is being spent on this bloody kerb. I can't wait for the traffic lights to come for the idiots can't turn a corner without smashing their car up.' One social media member even suggested setting up a viewing area on the other side of the road to mock road users. After months of complaints, a safety audit has now been completed by Wiltshire Council and work is due to start next week to improve the kerb. The gradient of the footpath is set to be reduced and a bollard put in place to guide people around the 90-degree corner. 'Deterrent paving' will also be insalled to assist drivers. Councillor Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways at Wiltshire Council, said: 'This is a key junction providing access to the railway station and city centre, with approximately 11,000 vehicles passing under the Fisherton Street railway bridge each day. 'It is important that the infrastructure installed at this location supports pedestrian safety, especially with the recent opening of Fisherton car park for SWR customers, which has increased footfall in the area.'
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
BBC apologises to Jenrick over suggestions he is xenophobic in Radio 4 broadcast
The BBC has apologised to Robert Jenrick after a refugee charity boss suggested the shadow justice secretary is xenophobic during Radio 4's Today programme. Mr Jenrick has accused the broadcaster of smearing 'millions of worried citizens as 'xenophobic' for their completely understandable fears'. While appearing on the radio on Wednesday, Krish Kandiah, a director of Sanctuary Foundation, claimed Mr Jenrick had increased 'fear of the stranger' among people. Mr Kandiah added: 'The technical name for this is xenophobia. 'All phobias are by definition irrational. Nevertheless, they have a huge impact. 'Over the past year, xenophobia has fuelled angry protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, deepening divisions in our communities.' In a letter to the Conservative MP, the broadcaster's head of editorial standards Roger Mahony said the comments went 'well beyond' what is expected of its Thought For The Day segment. Mr Mahony said: 'I have concluded that, while its reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective is broadly in line with expectations of Thought For The Day, some of the language it used went beyond that. 'I have asked for the two references to xenophobia to be edited from the programme on BBC Sounds. Please accept my apology for their original inclusion.' The content has since been removed from the programme on BBC Sounds. Mr Jenrick said: 'Illegal migration is obviously fuelling crime and the public are right to be concerned about it. 'It's extremely disappointing the BBC thought it was acceptable to smear millions of worried citizens as 'xenophobic' for their completely understandable fears about undocumented men entering illegally.' A series of protests have been held outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, over recent weeks after an asylum seeker was accused of attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, denies the charges of sexual assault and is due to stand trial this month. In a statement, the BBC said: 'During this episode of Thought For The Day, criticism was made of recent comments by shadow secretary of state for justice Robert Jenrick, about hotels housing asylum seekers. 'While the programme's reflection on fear in society from a faith perspective was broadly in line with expectations of Thought For The Day, some of the language used went beyond that and we apologise for its inclusion. 'It has been removed from the version on BBC Sounds.'
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ruben Amorim pushing for Man United to sign Carlos Baleba this summer
Manchester United are actively trying to do a deal for Carlos Baleba in this window, as Ruben Amorim pushes for a midfielder to accelerate his rebuild. Brighton are understood to want around £120m for the 21-year-old, with owner Tony Bloom generally unmoving as regards such prices. The United hierarchy are currently figuring out how to construct a payment package, with one consideration to offer an initial £80m with the rest made up of add-ons. There would be a will to send a player such as Jadon Sancho the other way, but it is not seen as likely that Brighton go for that. While United anticipate outgoings in the remainder of the window, their available budget under PSR has been aided so far by the construction of their three big deals so far - Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko - and how much has been paid in first instalments. Amorim is insistent on a midfielder to fit the team together, and Baleba has been identified as best fitting the profile they want. A further attraction is that, while he offers exactly what United need right now, he also has huge potential. If the club cannot get him this summer, they will almost certainly go again next year. The same could be true for United's preferred alternative, Adam Wharton. The club may try for the Crystal Palace defensive midfielder if they cannot get Baleba, but also hold a long-term interest to pair the two together. It is nevertheless anticipated that Wharton could cost even more this summer, with Palace chairman Steve Parish unwilling to do business given that they could yet lose Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze. United have also looked at Sporting's Morten Hjumland, although there are questions over whether he quite has the physicality for the position they want. Atalanta 's Ederson is also admired, albeit in a slightly different role. Baleba himself is highly keen on the move.
