A SHELTER that has been in Leigh for more than 100 years was smashed up by vandals who use it as a place to drink.

Residents were left furious after the shelter on Marine Parade, opposite Hamboro Garden, was targeted again by teens.

The shelter has been in Leigh for more than 100 years, and residents now fear it may be removed if the “mindless” acts, like the one in the early hours of Saturday morning, continue.

It comes after memorial benches were found damaged in Chalkwell on Sunday.

Gary Cable, 56, who lives on Marine Parade said: “I live ten metres to the left of the shelter so I overlook it.

“I constantly watch people use and abuse that shelter.

“People do congregate there in the evening. Kids drink there and chuck bottles and try to kick off the wood on the bench.

“I saw it at 5.30am and it wasn’t like that in the evening so it must have happened early hours.

“It’s brain dead mentality to just smash something mindlessly.

“We’re used to it but this is another level of vandalism.

“My parents are in their 80s. My dad will go over to talk to them and ask them to stop and it worries me in case anything happens.”

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Gary praised the council for fixing the shelter quickly over the weekend, insisting the community doesn’t want to lose it.

“The local council spends a lot of money to make it look nice.

“It was fixed by the council but it won’t be long until it happens again.

“The police do spot checks here but they come between 2 and 3pm. No-one’s there then they come late at night.

“We just need to raise awareness to stop it happening again. It’s not a nice look.

“They’ve also spoken about removing the glass but we shouldn’t have to.”

Leigh councillor, Carole Mulroney said: “As far as I’m concerned, there’s no plans to remove that shelter. It’s part of our heritage and long may it remain so.

“If someone’s going to cause damage, they will. We will repair it and deal with it.

“Just please have some respect for the area and what other people value and enjoy.”