Vandals are deliberately putting the safety of residents in Machynlleth at risk by hiding jagged glass in sport pitches, it has been claimed. Machynlleth councillors fear someone could be killed.

They are now calling on police to step up patrols in the area.

Town councillors claim vandals are continuously smashing glass bottles and hiding the shards on the area’s rugby and football pitches.

And before every game, groups of people are having to form long lines to carefully examine the pitches for glass.

Councillor Steve Nicholas, of Machynlleth, said: “Club members are now having to form a line and search the pitches as people have been breaking bottles and putting them in the ground. We keep finding several upturned broken bottles and something needs to be done.”

Councillor Glenda Jenkins said: “Something like this could end up proving to be fatal. I think the only way forward would be to approach the police and ask them to step up patrols in certain areas of the town.”

Elfed Jones, manager of Machynlleth Rugby Club, said: “We’ve had a few problems in the past with broken bottles that have been left on the pitch but glass has never been hidden in the grass.”

Sian George, Dyfed Powys Police spokeswoman, said: “We have received no reports about glass on the pitch but have received complaints about youths drinking in the area, which we are targeting.”

No-one from the Machynlleth Football Club was available for comment today.