1.
GV EXT. Wimbledon headquarters and sign. (2 shots)
0.05

2.
GV People looking at damaged pitch, surrounded by paint.
0.11

3.
CU Head grounds-man (white hair and glasses) looking at holes and paint. (2 shots)
0.22

4.
CU Disturbed soil an turf. (2 shots)
0.27

5.
CU AND LV Groundsman around damage. (2 shots)
0.42

6.
CU Yellow paint on windows and clock. (2 shots)
0.50

7.
GV Centre court with group around.
0.58



Initials VS 19.35 VS 19.40


SPORT: TENNIS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Vandals wrecked Wimbledon's famous centre court on Tuesday (14 January) when they dug seven holes in the turf and filled them with aluminium paint.

The vandals, who broke into the courts overnight also sprayed aerosol paint around the seats and on a large overhead clock...but did not attempt to leave any form of message.

Major David Mills, secretary of the All England Club, said the top surface of the court "had been scraped as if with a knife or fork".

Another Wimbledon official said: "It seems to have been a pointless act of vandalism. We have had no-one claiming responsibility and we just can't imagine who and why it was done."
Major Mills said the damaged parts would be replaced by turf from the side of the court...he estimated that the repair bill would only amount to GBP50 sterling, but added that the playing surface would take some months to recover.