DELAYS in constructing a new computer centre in Penhill could mean the project loses its government funding.

The Penhill Community Centre received grants from the Department for Education Skills to refurbish the centre's base at John Moulton Hall and equip it with a computer suite.

But the money £155,000 from the DfES capital building fund and £50,000 to buy IT equipment is subject to the condition that work is completed by December.

Vandals ruined the foundations of the building soon after work began at the start of September, which resulted in postponing the opening of the suite.

But Marilyn Beale, a community volunteer who had been involved with bidding for the grants, said the project had been subject to setbacks well before the vandalism.

She said building work should have begun in February and been completed by July but Swin-don Council had not stuck to the timetable.

"There is a time limit for the council to have built the centre and if there are any more hold ups there is a serious danger that we are going to lose that money," she said.

"We had planning permission prior to getting the grant last November so all it had to do was go ahead and build it.

"I don't think it was held up for any particular reason, it just seemed to be stuck in the legal department for months getting shoved from one in tray to another."

Hellen Barnes, spokeswoman for Swindon Coun-cil, said: "Swindon Ser- vices has a seven week contract for the ICT Centre building work.

"It is confident of completing the work in October, despite extensive vandalism at the site which meant the foundations had to be completely re-laid on September 2."

The project also received £10,000 from the New Opportunities Lot-tery Fund for staffing the centre, £30,000 from the European Social Fund and Swindon Borough Council has also contributed £20,000.