Yobs strike at centre

A COMMUNITY centre has been left counting the cost after yobs smashed a dozen windows.

Haslingden St Mary’s, on South Shore Street, was targeted by would-be burglars between 7.30pm on Saturday, April 15, and 10am on Sunday, April 16.

Tony Fitzjohn, club secretary, said he was ‘very disappointed’ when he discovered the damage and said extra security measures would now be installed. He said: “All the windows on the gable end had been forced open. We have got iron bars inside so they couldn’t get in. That saved us.

“I was more disappointed than anything. We are a football club, a ●● Haslingden St Mary’s Community Centre has been hit by yobs community centre and a registered charity.

“We try to do good by anybody and whoever has done this has targeted us to maybe steal some alcohol. It would cost us a few thousand pounds to have 12 new windows.”

The club is the base of Haslingden St Mary’s FC and is also used for weddings, birthdays, funerals and christenings and for business meetings.

Lancashire Police said no arrests have been made.

Call police on 101 quoting crime reference number EF1704253.