We report on the latest victim of Swindon's plague of vandalism.
Users of a community centre in Park South are the latest to fall victim to the town's vandals.
Toddlers who attend the daily playgroup at the Park South Community Centre now have nowhere to meet after five windows were broken.
The centre in Cranmore Avenue cannot afford to pay for repairs, and its secretary, Kim Kyson, claims the problem has got worse since a youth group based in the centre stopped running because Swindon Council could not provide the staff.
She said: "Youngsters are so bored and frustrated, they are resorting to breaking things. If the attacks continue at this rate, we may even have to close completely."
Over the weekend five large windows were smashed in the centre's gym. It is the latest in a string of incidents reported in this newspaper.
Mrs Kyson, 34, said: "It is heartbreaking. The youngsters are now confined to a small room in bad weather because the gymnasium is unsafe."
Now there are a total of 14 broken windows, which can't be replaced because the centre cannot afford to pay the £1,850 cost required.
Mrs Kyson said: "It will cost £400 to board up the latest broken windows, which we simply don't have. As for replacing the windows, there is no point because they will only be broken again. This behaviour is sickening. Last year we spent £1,000 on fixing things only to see them ruined sometimes just days later.
"We are not insured for this sort of damage, so we rely entirely on our own fundraising efforts. But the more battered our building is, the less people want to hire it out."
The Park South Junior Club gave more than 100 under 14-year-olds the chance to enjoy activities ranging from cookery to playing pool. But staff shortages resulted in the club's closure in March.
Besides windows, vandals have also wrecked the shower room cubicles, kicked in the door of the boiler room, set off fire extinguishers and broken toys belonging to the playgroup.
Despite the severity of the damage, Mrs Kyson claims that the police are not even attempting to investigate.
She said: "I rang up to report the attacks and was told that they do not have the manpower to visit the site. This sends the message to youngsters that they can get off scot-free. It seems neither the council nor police can help us. "
Hellen Barnes, spokeswoman for Swindon Council, said: "Park South Junior Club had to close because our community education team just do not have the staff at the moment to run it. But the neighbourhood team leader will be contacting the centre soon to see if the situation can be resolved."
Superintendent Wayne Bonne of Swindon police acknowledged the town's difficulties with vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
He said: "Our inspectors identify hot-spots and prioritise areas which require extra attention to tackle such problems. Due to the unpredictable nature of policing there are times when resources are stretched and the degree of urgency relating to the response of any incident has to be prioritised. But each incidentis taken seriously and investigated on its merits."
Vandalism appears to be a growing problem in the town. Here are a few of the incidents we have reported just recently:
Last week a 16-year-old boy was told to pay £141 compensation to pensioner Val Hearn, after he was caught on camera hurling a paint can through her glass front door.
Oaktree Primary and Nursery School in Park South was targeted by vandals who smashed seven double glazed windows on the premises on May 11.
Underage drinking, abusive behaviour and vandalism in a play area at the back of the Haydon Wick Community Centre prompted complaints from residents last month.
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