FLOODING has returned to haunt a North-East football club, but this time a broken cistern was to blame for the deluge, and not the weather.

According to Darlington Football Club's official Internet website, an incident during a private 18th birthday party at the club's Ambassador Suite on Friday night led to damaged toilet pipes causing a flooding in the stand.

The report states that a group of male youths kicked a toilet cistern off the wall, which led to the first-floor landing and the ground floor flooding.

The flooding also caused the Ambassador Suite's foyer roof to cave-in, and water also seeped into the club shop, damaging stock and paperwork.

Staff worked until 4am in an attempt to control the flooding, with many using the drainage tools which the club bought to deal with last season's pitch drainage problems.

Furniture was moved out of the Ambassador Suite and heaters were put on full to dry the carpets.

The Quakers were plagued by pitch drainage problems last season, with several matches postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Feethams.

Despite the alleged incident, the Ambassador Suite was open during Saturday's Third Division clash with Brighton.

Last night, a spokesman for the club confirmed that an incident involving flooding had taken place on Friday evening, but refused to comment any further