A FOOTBALL club who play in the Welsh League Division One have had their home ground targeted by fly-tippers.

Cwmbran Celtic Football Club have regularly found rubbish being dumped at their Celtic Park ground this season.

On Saturday, club volunteers turned up before the team’s home game against Briton Ferry to find rubbish and furniture dumped behind the goals adjacent to the Cwmbran Stadium car park.

Club chairman Scott Kinsella said that the dumping was an "embarrassment to the club and the town" when teams come to visit Celtic Park.

He said: “We turned up Saturday for our home game at Celtic Park to be greeted by more fly-tipping.

“This time it was a chair, cushion and a bag of rubbish thrown down the embankment but this is now becoming too regular.

“It looked like a refuge tip.

“Putting it bluntly, these people have become drain on the club which is run by a bunch of dedicated volunteers.

“They’re also breaking the law and the club are frequently having to put up with mindless acts of anti-social behaviour.

“We’re a well-established Welsh League club and I consider it an embarrassment to the club and the town when visiting teams are greeted by the rubbish dumped around Celtic Park. I hope these people are found and punished.

“We spend quite a bit of money on the first team pitch and it's demoralising to have to clear it up every couple of days.

“As a chairman, I'm very grateful for our volunteers and our groundstaff who spend a couple of days a week clearing up litter from the pitch.”

The incident has been reported and a fast response team have been informed.

Cllr Fiona Cross, executive member for the environment, said: "Fly-tipping is a crime that comes at a significant cost the taxpayer at a time when demand for vital public services is increasing. 

"As a council we are doing all we can to prevent and prosecute fly-tippers, but we can only do this together with the Torfaen community who have a key role to play in helping us identify those responsible.

"The council works with partners including the police and where evidence is found we have launched prosecutions.

"We have also made it easier for people to report instances of fly-tipping through our mobile app and website, which has not only made our clear up times quicker but has enabled us to receive photos or video that can be used as evidence against those responsible.

"We urge anyone who knows anything about this incident to get in touch with us on 01495 762200."