HEART HAS BEEN RIPPED OUT OF VILLAGE

MEMBERS of an ancient bowling club burst into tears as their green was ripped apart by a giant digger.

The farce unfolded in Rankinston, scene of a long-running bitter battle between bowlers and their landlord.

And things turned ugly this week as landowner Nicola Brown watched over a JCB as it hacked up turf on the 125-year-old green.

Stunned bowlers watched as the huge machine tore the turf to shreds and brought more than a century of play to a shuddering halt.

The move came just days after the green had been attacked during the night by a spade-wielding vandal, putting bowlers on alert.