A KEIGHLEY nursery is being subjected to a “relentless” barrage of destructive attacks by vandals.

Staff at Keighley Community Nursery, in Braithwaite Grove, say their premises have been targeted on at least six separate occasions since May. The latest bout of vandalism occurred some time during the weekend.

Nursery manager, Joanna Smith, said the criminals seemed to only be interested in inflicting damage for the sake of it. “They’re not even stealing anything, they’re just smashing everything up,” she said. “It’s so frustrating.

“Since May, we’ve had more than half-a-dozen reportable incidents of damage to the children’s play areas, including flower planters, our mud kitchen, the story shelter, our nature garden and our sand pit. We’ve also had damage to the children’s play equipment.

“Two weeks ago they broke every security light around the building. There was broken glass everywhere.

“They’ve kicked through a fence and even got up onto the roof and ripped out phone lines and internet cables.

“We have installed additional lights, had support from West Yorkshire Police and improved our existing CCTV provision. However, the damage continues and we’re unable to continue to pay for the repairs required.

“It’s got to the point where I dread coming in each morning because I’m wondering what I’m going to find. I only began working here in June last year. We did have a couple of incidents at the back end of last year, but it was nothing like this.”

Miss Smith said some parents also need to take responsibility for knowing what their children are getting up to after dark.

“We’re appealing to residents for their help in identifying the people involved,” she said.

“We would ask any resident to please keep an eye out for anyone in the nursery grounds after 6pm on a week night or at any time on a weekend, and to report any suspicious behaviour by calling 101.”

An appeal has been made for gardeners or joiners prepared to donate time and materials to help fix some of the damage.

Sergeant Julie Boardman, of Keighley Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “This nursery has been blighted by criminal damage in recent months. It is local kids that use the facilities and it is a really valuable community resource.

“We have increased patrols in the area and are specifically targeting anti-social behaviour. Any incidents reported to us will be robustly investigated, and I urge members of the community to call us on 101 if they see anyone committing criminal damage here or in any other part of the town.”