A FAMOUS boxing club, which has produced a string of top pedigree fighters including eight times ABA champ John Lyon, has been trashed by mindless louts.

Bill Connor, secretary of Lowe House Boxing Club which boasts a proud history since it first opened its doors back in 1932, suspects vandals could have used a partially-built bungalow next door to scramble onto the roof.

A former fighter, who won national titles at schoolboy, junior and senior levels, Mr Connor said neighbours had spotted children as young as 10 roaming about on the roof.

Other boxers who honed their pugilistic skills at the Halefield Street club range from Jimmy Molloy and Jacky Hughes to former British light-

middleweight champion, now Hollywood star Gary Stretch.

Mr Connor added: "The damage they have caused and the mess they have made is horrendous," he said. "Windows on the roof have been smashed and roof tiles are broken.

"We haven't enough money to pay for the repairs as the damage runs to thousands of pounds."

Mr Connor added that the club had to close for a week because the floor was littered with shards of glass, house bricks and smashed roof tiles.

He suggested that a recent crack down by police on anti-social behaviour had started to show some results up to the school holidays.