A golf tournament was thrown into disarray when travellers vandalised the 12th hole after repeated confrontations with players over stolen balls.

Members of Hollingbury Park Golf Club, who were hosting the three-day Brighton Open Amateur Golf Tournament this weekend, were furious when travellers in more than 40 caravans near the park disrupted the event.

The trouble started when the caravans, thought to have been moved on from Hove and then Stanmer Park, moved into ten acres of ground at the back of the 12th hole in the park in Ditchling Road, Brighton.

On Thursday, players were confronted by children who stole their balls and caused criminal damage.

In a bid to ensure the smooth running of the tournament, golf captain Steve Stone called Brighton and Hove Council which provided 24-hour security guards for the event.

But on Saturday, club members found the 12th hole so badly vandalised it had to be taken out of play.

Mr Stone said he suspected travellers' children were responsible.

"They have stolen golf balls and flags and dug up the green and it got so bad on Saturday I had to close down the green and take it out of play.

"It's a golf course and you can't expect players to have to put up with stolen balls and being threatened."

Police were called in on Saturday afternoon and talked to the children's parents and returned yesterday morning. Mr Stone added: "We tried to do everything we could but it was not sufficient to stop 20 or 30 children getting on the course.

"It has completely disrupted the tournament."