YOUTH club members are having to meet on the street after their centre was put out of action by vandals.

Carrside Youth Centre, in Carr Avenue, Brandon, suffered several thousands of pounds worth of damage during a wrecking spree.

A fire started in a couch burnt through the night, and damaged the floor and walls.

The centre could be out of use for several months, including the summer holidays when many activities were planned for its 118 teenage members.

With nowhere to meet, youth workers are now doing "detached'' work on the streets of the village, trying to organise what activities they can.

Centre manager Julie O' Connor, who discovered the damage, said: "It was horrific. Smoke came billowing out of the doors. The whole building was blackened.

"The lights in the ceiling had melted and wires had fallen out with the heat.

"They had chucked pots of paint and cleaning fluid, wrenched kitchen cupboards off the wall and set fire to a couch in the pool room. The wood floor has burnt through where the couch was.

"We had increased provision from two to six sessions and we were planning things to get greater use of the centre by the community.

"We are back to square one. The kids are absolutely devastated.

"They are saying that they have put in time and effort and decorated the centre.

"Some of the ceilings might need to come down, the whole place needs rewiring and we need new central heating. It will be a big, expensive job.''

Ms O'Connor said she could not foresee it reopening until after the summer holidays, during which activities such as arts and crafts and photography had been planned.

She said the centre, which has five workers and three volunteers, was vital as there was little else for 13 to 19-year-olds in Brandon.

"We'll provide four street sessions a week. You can't do much accredited work with them but you can meet them and discuss their needs and issues or take bats and balls for games.

"We are still proactive, we are not defeatist, and we are looking to the future.''

The incident happened overnight on May 12.

Members can find out about what activities are still available by calling 0191-378 4975.

A police spokesman said the vandals got into the centre through a side door and smashed the kitchen, threw paint around and set fire to the couch.

He added that they also stole items including boxing gloves and a CD player

The spokesman urged anyone with information to call 0845 60 60 365.