MEMBERS of County Durham's largest scout group fear their new £180,000 hut will be targeted by vandals after years of attacks.

Leaders of the Barnard Castle Scout Group are so worried about youngsters in the town attacking their hut that they are outlining possible measures to protect it even before it has been built.

Their fears stem from years of vandalism to their 67-year-old hut, which has been broken into regularly for the past decade.

The group has spent thousands of pounds over the years on replacing broken windows and on fixing the roof, which has been damaged on several occasions by vandals climbing on it.

The new hut will be built on the site of the existing one, in Wilson Street, but leaders say they would rather the hut was built in a different area.

Jack Stannard, who has been associated with the group for 71 years, and is now chairman of the Barnard Castle Scout Group committee, said the vandals were spoiling it for everyone.

He said: "They have targeted the old hut for years and we are sick of it, but we just can't find anywhere else suitable to build the new hut.

"We are almost certain that they will continue to attack the new hut, but nevertheless we are pleading with whoever has targeted our hut in the past to stop now, and stop spoiling the enjoyment of so many youngsters in the town. It is just mindless."

After repeated vandalism, Scout leaders decided to cover all the windows with wire mesh. They are already planning ways to stop trespassers from climbing on to the roof of the new hut.

The new building will be much larger, and will provide extra storage space and facilities for indoor actvities.

There will also be two garages joined to the new hut, which will house two mini-buses that the club use to take members on trips each weekend.

The group, which has 190 scouts on the roll and more on the waiting list, has been battling for three years to get permission and funding to build the new hut.

They have applied for National Lottery funding to build a new home on three occassions, finally secruing a grant of £170,000 earlier this year