THOUGHTLESS vandals are doing East Lancashire Hospice out of vital revenue by destroying banners advertising their charity events.

And fundraising bosses at the hospice today blasted the "shameless" vandals who have destroyed their charity banners for the fourth time.

Head of fundraising Harry Grayson said there was absolutely no defence for defacing the 8ft by 3ft banners that the hospice used to promote its charity events.

The banners, advertising the hospice's Celebration of Life Events next month, were put up on Friday outside the Park Lee Road centre in Blackburn.

But when nurses arrived for the early shift at 6.30am on Saturday they had been destroyed using knives or scissors.

Mr Grayson said: "The banner is totally illegible and some of it is missing.

"We are really very reliant on the banners advertising our fundraising events but every time we put them up they just get vandalised.

"At the end of the day they don't cost us anything as they are given to us free of charge but we do miss out financially if people don't know about the events and so then don't come along and support us.

"Whoever keeps doing this is just very sad."

The banners are produced for the Hospice by Douglas Signs and Mr Grayson said they were a great help in getting funds to support the Hospice which relied on charitable donations to stay open.

Mr Grayson said he is now liaising with the local police and has informed the Comm-unity Support Officer about the vandal-ism.

Mr Grayson added: "I hope that our Community Support Officer will get involved and then we can put a stop to this damage for good. I have left the banner where it is today so people can see it and I hope whoever did this will feel very ashamed of what they have done. I just think quite honestly that they don't understand what a Hospice is all about. If they did know I am sure things would certainly be different.

"I can of course understand the attraction of doing naughty things and of devilment when you are young but to deface something that belongs to a charity that depends so heavily on public support is unbelievable.

"I hope whoever did this or the parents of whoever did this will see this picture and think about the consequences of their actions.

"And I would urge all parents in the area to talk to their children about the Hospice.

"They need to be made aware of all the work we do to make sure they understand why fundraising is so important to us."

l If you would like to support the Hospice or would like to know more about the work the Hospice does call Gill or Harry on 01254 342847.