VANDALS have fired an air rifle at the windows of a pre-school.

Pellets, believed to be those belonging to a .22 rifle, shattered six double-glazed windows at the rear of the Pinehurst Community Centre, next to the Pinehurst People's Centre in Olive Grove.

The building is used each morning by Little Pinetrees Pre-school and the community centre committee believes the cost of repairs will be more than £500.

No children were there when the attack happened.

Liz Evans is co-ordinator of Sure Start, which runs pre-schools and activities for parents of children under four. She said: "Vandalism has occurred before, but usually it's out of hours. I would like to point out there is no immediate danger to the children.

"One has to be careful that the actions of a few doesn't lead to an area becoming stigmatised."

Many community groups, including the local Red Cross, stroke club and disabled groups use the centre, which also doubles as a day centre.

Vandalism has been a long-running problem there. In the past year, lights have been ripped from their fixings, the security system has been targeted and guttering hauled from the roof.

John Partridge, 73, treasurer of the community centre committee, said: "The centre will have to pay for the damage. Vandalism is becoming a constant battle.

"This latest case is absolutely disgraceful because if someone had been in the room at the time they could have been killed.

"The centre is here for the community and we're doing all we can, but it just seems to backfire on us. Windows shattered by air rifle pellets is the worst kind of vandalism we have experienced."

Mr Partridge first noticed the smashed windows when he patrolled the centre on Monday. It is thought the vandals fired their rifles from the large car park at the rear of the community centre.

The shots have left clean and clearly visible holes in the glass on some panes, while others have shattered.

Inspector Dave McMullin of Swindon Police said: "The mentality of people who commit this kind of offence beggars belief, especially when it must have been known the premises were used by children. This incident is being viewed with immense seriousness.

"We will try to identify when the incident happened so we can assure parents their children were under no danger and we will endeavour to catch those responsible." Anyone with information can contact police on Swindon 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 55511.