12906/1Minety youths have clubbed together to build a £7,000 shelter in the village. A spate of vandalism over three months last year led villagers to ask the youngsters what they wanted.

The youths' top choice was the shelter because of the lack of places to meet in the village.

And, after intensive fundraising by the youngsters and their parents, the shelter was constructed at the playing fields last Tuesday.

Meanwhile the village opened its first youth club last summer and since then vandalism has not been a problem.

The villagers raised the money for the shelter with a band night at the

village hall in February, three youth discos and a quiz night in December

organised by the Minety Youth Action.

North Wiltshire District Council and Minety Charity also contributed a grant.

Derek Pitt, one of the parents who set up the action group, said: "The shelter is the result of intensive fundraising by the youth of the village.

"It is good from the youths' point of view because now they have somewhere to meet."

The octagonal shelter, which is coloured purple and silver, has seats and roof.

It is right next to the children's play ground and can be used by parents and others for watching sporting activities.

Chairman of the parish council David Brown said the reaction of parents and youngsters to the problems had been absolutely brilliant.

"The youth organisation led by parents Derek Pitt and Clive Naldi have worked wonders raising money," he said.

"We have got to have something for the youths. It is no good leaving it to the bus shelters and if the youths put something towards it they will respect it. I think it is very positive"

The action group are now trying to raise a further £1,000 to build a basketball hoop on the back of the shelter.

In the period between May and July last year there was an attempted arson at Minety Primary School, a break in at the tennis club with human faeces found outside their clubhouse, and smashed glass at the children's playground.

The vandalism was blamed on youngsters and Malmesbury Police took the unusual step of writing in the parish magazine appealing for parents to keep an eye on their children.

A meeting in June, attended by 50 villagers, decided to set up an action group to work with the youngsters to tackle the problem.

Just two months later the village's first youth club was formed.

The club, which is supervised by volunteers, is held at the pavilion in the playing fields and is open on Wednesdays from 7pm to 9.30pm.

Youth club leader Peter Ody said: "It means the youths are not causing trouble anywhere else. I haven't heard of any trouble since the youth club started."

He praised the Pitt family for

organising the fundraising for the shelter.

He said: "Much credit has to go to Derek Pitt and his family who orchestrated the fundraising really well.

"Because the young have put their efforts into it they will see it as their piece of property. I really hope they look after it."

Mr Ody said more parental support was needed for the youth club and asked volunteers to contact him on (01666) 860861,

PC Martin Alvis said: "There has certainly been a noticeable drop in reported crime.

"There has not been the same amount of vandalism there was.

"We think this initiative is excellent. We are all for it. A lot of credit has to go to the people for organising the shelter."