A TEEN shelter set up for youngsters to enjoy has been repeatedly targeted by vandals.

The brick structure was put up last October in Clements Hall sports ground, in Hawkwell, to provide a meeting place for young people at a cost of £10,000.

Yobs have targeted it three times already, scrawling graffiti, tearing parts of the roof off, and ripping out the down pipe from the guttering. In the latest attack, the guttering itself was pulled down, even though it was made of a toughened material.

PC Steve Joynes, neighbourhood officer for Hawkwell, said: “You’ll probably find out of a crowd of 20, there’s one who causes the damage and the other 19 say ‘we’re not going to grass because that’s not what you do.

“But then they are letting that one person spoil it for the rest, so they all shoot themselves in the foot.”

Hawkwell Parish Council chairman Vic Leach said youngsters were missing out as a result, because instead of spending money on extra facilities for young people the council was having to shell out for repairs. He added: “We are genuinely delighted the community shelter is now available to everybody in the parish. It’s a real asset to users, but obviously we regret an absolute minority seem to be intent on spoiling it for all.”

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call PC Joynes on 0300 3334444.