Youth hall under threat from louts

The louts have caused so much trouble that some youth groups have refused to rent the building again - decreasing vital funds and threatening its survival.

The frustrated owners of the building have sent a letter to the vandals' parents via a parish magazine, pleading for help.

The Kids of Wool building, on Colliers Lane, Wool, was created 12 years ago for youth activities using funds raised in the area.

The land around the centre is strewn with condoms, empty beer cans, evidence of drug use, fires and litter.

Alan Brown, chairman of the Kids of Wool Building trust committee, said it had become a hang-out for teenage miscreants from the village and surrounding areas.

Security lights were smashed 'continually' and extinguishers were discharged during break-ins.

He said: "When gutters are replaced they're removed and broken up within hours. In the mornings people have to clean up beer cans, condoms and evidence of drug use.

"We have visiting packs of brownies and scouts from across the South West, but they're being heavily intimidated. Some have threatened not to come back. The youngsters bang on the windows and make noise all through the night.

"We had one group of brownies who came on a Saturday and were gone on Monday morning because they'd had so much trouble."

He feared the problems would affect future bookings, hitting the trust's tight budget.

Mr Brown said: "The letting of the building brings in the money to keep it running. People have tried talking to the youngsters responsible but they just get abused, so we've written to the parents, hoping they can stop this."

Sergeant Steve Strickland, of Dorset Police, confirmed there were call-outs to the site.

He said: "We would like people to report such incidents at the time and we will do our best to investigate them.

"The Dorset Police community safety vehicle is now visiting Wool regularly and will be there next on December 6. People can report such incidents then."