TWENTY footballs were stolen from an amateur football club after one of its containers was broken into.

Yobs broke into one of Radcliffe Town Football Club's containers at their home ground in Outwood Road over the weekend.

The equipment had recently been purchased for the club's juniors team.

Staff said they were "disappointed" to learn of the break-in.

Police were contacted about the theft shortly before 8pm on Sunday.

Radcliffe Town tweeted about the break-in: "Disappointed to find our container has been broken into over the weekend and all our new balls for the juniors have been taken, along with bibs, pop up goals and various other training accessories.

"Yet more money to find to replace the stolen equipment."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "We were called to reports that a container was being attempted by children at King George V Playing Fields in Outwood Road.

"We were later updated by a member of the club who told us that 20 footballs had been stolen."