MEMBERS of a ‘massive’ Winsford gang are suspected of trashing Darnhall Village Hall.

The letters WYF – which are believed to stand for Wharton Youth Firm – are written in several locations inside the village hall.

The words ‘Unlucky WYF’ are written in gold paint near to the vandalised war memorial plaque.

The group’s ‘tags’ have previously been seen around Winsford.

Angela Hancock, booking officer at the village hall, was the first person to discover the damage last week.

Speaking at a meeting at St David’s Church, Wettenhall on Monday, she said: “The fires in Winsford are all linked to the same gang, the Wharton Youth Firm.

“It’s a big gang, massive. It’s not five or six young lads. That’s what the policeman said.”

Laurence Jinks, chairman of Darnhall Parish Council, told residents the gang may have been preparing to start a fire before being disturbed.

Cllr Jinks said: “They filled the wheelie bin win burnable items.We thought they were going to try to burn it like they have been doing in Winsford. They must have been disturbed.

“I think we got away with that.”

Angela also revealed at the meeting that her parents’ garden had been vandalised a week before the village hall attack. It is not known if the two incidents are linked.

Insp Dave Snasdell, from Northwich Local Policing Unit, told the Guardian the gang is linked to a number of fires in Winsford, particularly during the last bonfire period.

He said: “The Wharton Youth Firm is made up a group of teenagers and young adults who for a number of years have been terrorising people in the Winsford area.

“They have targeted properties before, usually by tagging peoples’ doors and mainly in the Wharton estate.

“They are difficult to identify. We have identified a few through social media and one of the main instigators was jailed earlier this year.”

“Since November, we’ve not had much at all from people saying the Wharton Youth Firm are up and running.”