MEMBERS of a Kingswinford Scout group have been left devastated after their hut was severely vandalised three times in as many months.
The 1st Dawley Brook scout hut, based in the grounds of Dawley Brook Primary School, has been boarded up after having its doors, windows and roof damaged multiple times.
Vandals have broken the glass of the doors and windows, ripped boarding from other windows, damaged roofing and also covered the interior of the hut with fire extinguisher foam.
Dawn Rides, a group leader, said: “We are all devastated with the damage that has been caused and the mess which has been made.
“Last year we spent more than £7,500 on updating our hut, including putting in brand new windows, doors and the roof, which serves over 100 boys and girls from both Guides and Scouts.
“It cost us a lot of money to do the work, money which we had to raise to get the hut up to a standard that was fit for its purpose.
“It’s terrible that people would do this, but fortunately nothing has been stolen from inside.”
Vandals first hit the Dubarry Avenue building in March, when the glass of the main door as well as a window were broken.
Group leaders boarded up this attack, before further destruction had a more severe impact in the following months.
This included damage caused when offenders were able to take two fire extinguishers from a wall and were discharged inside the hut.
Once they were used, the extinguishers were thrown over a fence.
The group are now counting the cost of the damage, which could have an impact on annual activities on offer to the children.
Dawn added: “The repairs and replacements will cost us about £1,500 as we also need to look at obtaining roller shutters for both the doors and windows.
“This may impact on our camping trips and BBQ.”
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