This is damage to the grass at the Culver Close playing field in Bradford on Avon.

Someone with a metal detector is believed to be responsible for digging around 20 holes on the popular playing field just off the B3109 main road.

The town council, which owns and manages the recreation area, discovered the damage on Wednesday morning.

It is believed to have happened overnight on Tuesday/Wednesday.

In a post on social media, the council said: “It has come to our attention that persons have been metal detecting on Culver Close who have dug around 20 holes.

“As landowner, we have not given consent for metal detecting on Culver Close. This is not a victimless crime as it will take time and money to reseed and patch the grass again.

“It is a criminal offence to detect on land without the permission of the landowner.”

The town council’s green spaces team will now have to repair the damage before the grass can be used again by local sports clubs, such as the cricket club.

Council officers have urged residents to contact Wiltshire Police on 101 if they see anyone with metal detectors on the land that they suspect should not be there.