Stadium security gets boost after burglary

Security has been beefed-up at the now derelict Cannock Stadium after the latest in a spate of break-ins and vandal attacks at the site.

Cannock Chase Council has replaced shutters on the building, in Pye Green Road, and applied anti-vandal paint to the roof to try to stop yobs from getting in. The latest attack was discovered last week when it is believed burglars managed to scale the side of the building and remove roof tiles to get inside via the loft space.

It has prompted renewed calls for the building to be knocked down.

Leader of Cannock Chase Council, Councillor Neil Stanley, said the latest break-in supported moves by the authority to demolish the building which has been delayed due to suggestions of bats living there.

Councillor Stanley said: "Someone has again broken in to the building and put themselves at risk and its another reason why it should be knocked down."

It is thought the intruders discovered old till receipts and booking forms containing names, which had been mistakenly left behind after the stadium was closed last year, prompting concerns.

But today Cannock Chase Council stressed that none of the documents contained confidential information.

There were no addresses on the forms, which were archived booking forms dating back to 1998 and 2000.

They contain only the names of the customer and the amount they paid for the booking.

The council was alerted to the break-in on Tuesday and officers visited the site where they found some documents.

All paperwork has now been removed and the crime has been reported to Staffordshire Police.

Jamie Summerfield, spokesman for Cannock Chase Council said: "Although there were a number of discarded till rolls and other items of debris at the site there was no evidence of any other paperwork lying around at that time.

"All current official paperwork was removed from the building when the stadium was closed.

"As far as the council is aware, no confidential information was stored on the site."