A SWIMMING pool has been damaged by fire vandals in the middle of the school holidays at a popular leisure centre.

Fire thugs torched the pool at the Sir Matt Busy Sports Centre on Main Street in Bellshill in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police said entry was forced between 2am and 2.20am before the fire was deliberately set.

No-one was in the building at the time but the pool area suffered fire damage and had to be closed to the public yesterday morning.

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed and officers are appealing for any information regarding this incident. 

READ MORE: Youths hit firefighters with stones in Garthamlock

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Doulton Fountain damaged by vandals in Glasgow Green

Detective Constable Jacqueline McCann said: “This sports facility is very popular with the local community and with it being the school holidays it will be even busier. 

"I would like to ask people living near the centre to think back and consider if they saw or heard anything which seemed odd or suspicious.  

"Also, I would appeal to the public to contact us if they have any knowledge of who is responsible for this crime. 

"On this occasion, the sports centre’s doors are still open for the community’s use and we want to make sure it stays that way.”

If anyone has any information, please contact officers at Wishaw Police Station via 101, quoting incident number 0331 of 4 July 2019. 

Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be provided anonymously.