Damage costing thousands in vandal attack on centre

The gang smashed their way into Belmont Community Centre, in Durham City, late on Friday nigh, before starting fires causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

They broke into a cupboard belonging to a mother-and-toddler group, scattering children's toys across the floor. A session the group had planned for today has had to be cancelled.

In the kitchen, the vandals threw yoghurt and milk everywhere.

In a meeting room, they set fire to curtains and chairs, causing extensive smoke damage.

On the way out, they started a third fire, again targeting curtains.

The attack is the second in a week on the centre and has shocked staff and volunteers.

John Doran, chairman of the community association, said: "It's awful. The staff were in tears.

"We've just spent about £30,000 on the roof and we're trying for more grants to do other things. Then we get knocked back like this.

"We haven't had a lot of vandalism before but these two weekends have gone beyond the pale. They're mindless.

"This is a community here. The groups that use the building are of all ages.

"Everything you can think of goes on here."

Mr Doran estimates the cost of repairing the damage will be between £3,000 and £5,000.

Audrey Barnes, a support worker at the centre, said: "We're trying to make the place more attractive to get more people in and then we have these idiots who do this.

"It's very demoralising for the staff."

The centre attracted about 27,000 visitors last year.

It is used by about 20 community groups each week.

The activities it hosts include pre-school groups, martial arts classes, writers' forums, calligraphy lessons, and ballroom and sequence dancing.

A spokesman for Durham Police confirmed officers were called to the community centre by the fire brigade at about 1.30am on Saturday.

He said the incident is being treated as arson and appealed to anyone with information to call the police on 0845-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.