AFTER years lovingly tending his Swanage golf course a businessman has told of his horror at finding the greens dug up by vandals.

Andy Kirkwood, who set up The Swanage Pitch and Putt at Victoria Avenue from scratch seven years ago, said he was heartbroken to find two greens pitted with deep holes on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old believes the vandals must have brought a spade to do the damage and spent some time destroying his carefully watered, mown and rolled greens.

He said: "It's just mindless vandalism. We've spent so much time really trying to make these greens nice - watering them, rolling them, feeding them, everybody comes back and says how good they are. The chairman of the British Pitch and Putt association told me they were the best he'd seen. Then someone comes along and does that - it's just horrible."

Mr Kirkwood filled in the eight to 10 inch deep holes, but he cannot fully repair the damage.

He added: "I can put it back together but it won't be like it was until next spring."

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 01202 222 222.