VOLUNTEERS rallied to support a football club after its ground was vandalised with white paint.

Supporters of Hastings United FC headed to The Continental Pilot Field on Saturday morning to help staff clear the paint from the main entrance and welcome sign.

The club thanked the volunteers and Messy Mason and Sons cleaning service for helping to clear the paint before league promotion celebrations were due to take place.

The club said: “This is Hastings! Thank you to Mason Holmes and Messy Masons, and a bunch our volunteers and supporters who got together and made the place look as good as new.

“Who needs a new paint job?”

The U’s secured promotion from the Isthmian League Southeast and lifted the trophy following their game against VCD Athletic Football Club on Saturday.

However, the club said it was “disappointed” that its ground had been the targeted of vandals on the day celebrations were set to take place.

Sussex Police are investigating the incident.

A spokesman said: "Police received a report of criminal damage at a property in Elphinstone Road, Hastings, which is understood to have taken place overnight on Friday.

"Officers attended this morning to speak to the owners and identify any viable lines of enquiry.

"Enquiries are at an early stage, but anybody who has any information which could help can contact police online or by calling 101, quoting serial 467 of 16/04.