A COMMUNITY leader has praised police after their quick response helped stop a vandalism attack at a residents' centre.

A group of up to 20 teenagers were dispersed by police after congregating in the grounds of Firthmoor Community Centre on Wednesday night.

Kevin Nicholson, chairman of the Firthmoor and District Community Association, praised the speed with which the police arrived at the scene after he alerted them to the vandalism attack.

Mr Nicholson was driving past the community centre, in Burnside Road, at 8.45pm on Wednesday when he saw the group of teenagers. He called police and said five cars arrived within minutes, with officers stopping the vandalism.

Mr Nicholson believed the group had been attracted to the centre because of work being undertaken to add solar panels to its roof. As a result, temporary fencing had been erected around the centre.

He said: "Over the past week, we have had gangs of youths travelling onto the estate and causing trouble in our nursery garden.

"Last night, I was passing and noticed there were 15 to 20 teenagers in the nursery garden, chucking around our slides, toys and plants.

"I contacted the police to tell them that this was going on and ask if they could come down. It was a fantastic response. They were there within seconds. It was really effective.

"We will know tonight if it was as effective as we hoped.

Thankfully it is rare that this happens."

Mr Nicholson said the temporary fencing had been ripped down, a shed broken into and a number of items in the garden damaged.

He added: "It's not often the police get praise but it was a fantastic response. If that was the response that everyone gets, we would nip this activity in the bud.

"I was impressed, as were a number of residents who came out to see what was going on."

Police confirmed a number of officers attended the scene.

They took the name of five of the boys, all aged 13 and 14.

Anti-social behaviour officers are due to visit the youths and their parents.