Music and gardening equipment valued at thousands of pounds has been stolen from a Bradford community centre.
Guitars, computers, an amplifier, speakers and a mixing desk for a School of Rock project were stolen from the Fagley Youth and Community Centre.
Strimmers, lawn mowers and hand tools were also taken after thieves damaged doors and fencing to get access to the equipment in Fagley Road overnight on Thursday, it is believed.
Centre manager Keith Cornwell said: “I have been here since April and we’re trying to build things up down here – someone has kicked us in the teeth.
“We’re having a launch next week to let the public know what we are doing, we’re still going to do that, we can’t let them get in the way of it, we are going to show them we will carry on.
“People who come to the centre range from eight-year-olds to pensioners. It’s a resource for everyone, a lot of people were upset, it has put a downer on the day.”
Ward councillor Dorothy Wallace (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said: “It’s an estate where people called themselves ‘forgotten Fagley’, nothing happened there.
“They’ve turned the community centre around. They’re doing so well down here now.
“They won’t let it knock them, they’ll get on and continue but they shouldn’t have to, they fought so hard to get the funding for this.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers had received a report of the break-in at about 9am yesterday.
He said: “It is believed the break-in occurred overnight and thieves broke in through a fence and doors to gain entry.”
Anyone with information should phone PC Liz Bennett at Airedale and North Bradford Police on (0845) 6060606.
People are welcome to visit the centre on Wednesday from 3pm to 6pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article