A BURNLEY Wood drop-in centre used by pensioners has shut down after coming under repeated attack from vandals.

Over the past few months wreckers have repeatedly targeted the building on recreation ground off Parkinson Street.

The walls of the Over Fifties Centre are now covered in graffiti, tiles have been ripped from the roof, wall panels have been kicked in and a community garden has been dug up.

And the council have said there has been a significant fall in the number of people using the facility because of the attacks.

One pensioner living opposite the centre said today: "I've have complained countless times about the centre.

"It's the kids that live round here, they stay on the recreation ground late into the night because the floodlights are left on."

Mike Waite, the council's head of community and recreation service, said that fears over safety are behind the closure.

He said: "Following the recent criminal acts at Burnley Wood Over Fifties Centre, we have no choice, sadly, but to suspend the activities there.

"We want people using our facilities to be able to meet in safe and comfortable surroundings, but recent events mean we cannot offer that at this centre.

"People who use the centre and staff are understandably upset and angry at this development.

"Dedicated workers put a lot of time and effort into trying to do good things in the local community, and the council has put funds in to try and keep it going."

But the council has denied that it is abandoning older people in Burnley Wood.

Mr Waite said: "Users of the Burnley Wood centre are being invited to take up places at other clubs we support in nearby areas. "And the council will be deciding on the shape of its future community buildings provision in Burnley Wood as past of an options appraisal that is now underway. The needs of the area's older people will be an important part of our considerations.

"We remain committed to providing community and recreational facilities for older people in Burnley Wood, as in other parts of the borough. We continue to support nearly 30 clubs each week, involving hundreds of people."