VANDALS have wreaked absolute havoc during an attack at a football club, which even saw them steal life-saving heart equipment.

The incident came at Mill Field, soon to be the former home of Aveley Football Club.

The incident saw yobs break into the ground and cause thousands of pounds in damage after tearing up tiles and smashing glass.

It happened last Tuesday.

All of the club’s training equipment was also stolen, and thieves also smashed up a printer at the ground.

The gang then destroyed fence panels, and left with a defibrillator - a piece of life-saving equipment used to deliver electrical shocks to a person whose heart has stopped due to cardiac arrest.

It has resulted in the Millers and Grays Athletic, who have shared the ground, to cancel all scheduled pre season games.

They have also called off two charity games scheduled for later this month and July.

Club secretary and vice-chairman of the Isthmian League, Craig Johnson arrived at Mill Field to discover the damage and he quickly condemned the attack.

He said: “It is very clear that they were only there to do damage, which has come as such a disappointment to all involved with Aveley Football Club.

“We strive to do to keep this football club running and in helping the local community in any way that we can to make the local village have a football club they can be proud of.

“It is also very disappointing to announce that two charity matches have now had to be cancelled along with all of ours and Grays Athletic’s friendly matches that were previously scheduled.

“The local community needs to pull together and unite to stop people ruining our village we live in.”

It comes as Aveley prepares to move into its brand new £4.8m Parkside stadium, which is literally a stone’s throw from Mill Field.

In response to the vandalism, the club has set up a JustGiving page looking to raise £2,000 to pay for the damage and get the club back on its feet again.

At the time the Gazette went to print, more than £530 was raised by the club, which even prompted a donation from Hampshire-based football club Farnborough Town.

The Gazette has contacted Essex Police for comment.

For more information, or to donate t o the fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Aveley-football-club.

Anyone with information on the crime should call 101.