VANDAL attacks have put the future of a town's oldest Scout group in jeopardy.

The latest attack on the home of the 88-year-old 1st Mayor's Own Scout group hut left a 3ft square hole in the side of the Exchange Street, Colne, building and rainwater leaking through the roof.

Vandals caused between £300 and £500 worth of damage to the wooden building and stole a football and other equipment valued at around £50.

Scout leader Paul Sidlow said: "The fabric of the building can't stand this sort of thing. If the hut becomes unsafe we will be looking for a new home and if no-one comes forward the oldest Scout group in Colne will die.

"The damage they've caused this time is quite considerable.

"They kicked a hole through one of the side panels and they've thrown everything all over the place inside.

"We don't keep anything of value in there but that doesn't stop it happening. "It gets you down after a while. These things tend to come in spates.

"About five years ago we had a spate of vandalism and now it's happening again.

"If it keeps on happening the building won't stand it.

"They got on the roof and ripped the fabric off so rainwater is coming through the roof as well as the hole in the wall.

"People have given us a lot of support and raised money to make the hut more pleasant and all that is ruined by this sort of thing."

Mr Sidlow said even the cheaper option of replacing the hut with a modern wooden building would cost tens of thousands of pounds.

The police have been informed about the break-in and vandalism.

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