A BUSINESSMAN is offering a reward in a bid to trace the vandals who broke into his company compound and caused £14,000 worth of damage.

The wreckers, believed to be local teenagers, sneaked into Harrisons Coaches in Clayton-le-Moors and smashed 112 windows on six coaches.

Eric Batrick, the owner of the Whalley Road firm, says his company has been the target of vandal attacks for the last five years.

And a worker from the coach sales and repairs company has spoken to a local man who says he witnessed the wrecking raid.

Mr Batrick is now urging the witness to contact him or the police and has offered a £500 reword.

He said: "These people caused about £14,000 worth of damage and we will have to find most of that money.

Mr Batrick added: "We have suffered from vandal attacks for the last five years and this sort of thing cannot be allowed to continue.

"I am offering this reward to anyone who can give us information which will lead to the conviction of these people.

"Even if these vandals appear before the court, we will probably not get any compensation.

"But unless these youngsters are shown what they are doing is wrong there will be nothing to stop them coming back and causing more damage."

Mr Batrick went on: "One of my staff spoke to a man who said he saw some teenagers breaking into the yard.

"This man gave a detailed description of what went on and we would like to talk to him again, in confidence if necessary."

Anyone with information about the vandal attack should contact Accrington CID on 01254 382141.

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