YOUNGSTERS at an after-school centre in Dumbarton have been left devastated by vandals who have wrecked their play equipment.

Staff at Carousel School’s Out Club in the town's Castlegreen Street had noticed on several occasions that there had been unauthorised visitors in the grounds of the property while it was closed.

The club in Dumbarton East offers children a wide range of activities before and after school to choose from in a secure and safe environment.

Equipment such as football goals, a trampoline and a playhouse have all sustained damage over the last few weeks and it is gradually getting worse.

The club has two large open play rooms and offers a whole range of arts and crafts and messy play activities. However, the club's unauthorised visitor or visitors took messy play to another level by smashing up equipment.

Heather Ewing, manager at the Carousel after school care centre, said: "It has been happening over the course of a few weeks. It started off with someone coming in to the garden and playing on the trampoline but as things have went on it has got worse."

Staff first noticed that litter such as sweet and crisp wrappers were being left on some of the equipment and in the garden but that has progressed to damage to the play equipment that will cost hundreds of pounds to rectify. The cost to replace and repair the items has been estimated at over £340.

Heather added: "They started off leaving rubbish and chocolate wrappers that we found and had to clear up up, but now they have broken the football goals and tore the felt off the roof of the playhouse we have for the children. Whoever was responsible has also been trying to set fire to things including parts of the playhouse. There are burn marks inside."

The vandalism acts were carried out between Friday, May 20 and Thursday, May 26. Anyone with information on the vandalism is urged to telephone Dumbarton Police Office on the non-emergency number 101, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – which can be done anonymously.