Officers will continue to patrol the Alsager Sports Hub and issue tickets for any Covid breaches at the location where cannabis has already been seized.

Speaking at last Tuesday's Alsager Town Council meeting, Cllr Phil Williams spoke about the vandalism and anti-social behaviour issues that have been taking place at the Alsager Sports Hub, on Dunnocksfold Road.

Several residents have contacted the ward councillor to express their concerns.

Cllr Williams highlighted that the level of anti-social behaviour and vandalism at the hub was "generally fairly low", but it was "deliberate".

Having had confirmation from local residents and health and wellbeing charity Everybody Leisure, Cllr Williams told the committee that the "worst culprits did seem to be students from Alsager School".

The recently planted saplings on the site have sustained "quite a bit of damage" which was claimed to be accidental from children playing football.

However, after being allegedly spotted by contractors, students have reportedly been pulling up the leaves off the saplings and the whips that they are attached to and "throwing them around and using them as if they are swords".

Sgt Angela Egerton, of Cheshire Police, said: "The Alsager beat officers are aware of the issues raised.

"In recent months the location has been prioritised as a hotspot for increased patrols and a great deal of work has been done with the manager of the sports hub to reduce incidents of ASB (anti-social behaviour).

"The hub have installed CCTV and they have flood lit lighting which deters people congregating.

"The beat team have sent out ASB questionnaires to residents local to the sports hub to obtain details of frequency and times of occurrences.

"Searches have taken place on the grounds of the sports hub and cannabis has been seized. Officers will continue to patrol the location and will be issuing tickets for any Covid breaches."