Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble says those responsible for an arson attack on the football ground of Glenavon FC are time wasters.

The Upper Bann MP said Irish League football clubs had a difficult enough time as far as financial matters are concerned without the additional expense incurred by such incidents at Mourneview Park.

He said: “Those who carried out this attack are nothing more than malicious timewasters who are a scourge on society.

“I understand that this is not the first time in recent weeks that acts of vandalism have been carried out at Mourneview Park and I would appeal to anyone who can assist the police with their investigation to contact them.”

The boardroom and a kitchen under the main stand were badly smoke damaged in the attack.

However, fire officer Michael Kavanagh said the damage could have been more serious.

"Only for the automatic fire alarm system that was in place, the fire could have been much worse," he said.

The cause of the fire is currently being investigated with initial investigations pointing to something being pushed through the window.

(MB)