These shocking images show a group of yobs ripping down wooden hoardings at a Bradford building site – all to create a bonfire.

The brazen vandals, who appear to be in their late teens or early 20s, armed themselves with a claw hammer to carry out the concerted daylight attack in Buttershaw as younger children watched.

Gleeson Regeneration & Homes, which is building the 43 homes development at Lastingham Green, is now putting up a cash reward for information which leads to their prosecution.

A company spokesman said it had been horrified by the sheer effort employed by the vandals to pull apart and kick down the hoardings.

“They quite clearly came on to the site armed with a claw hammer with the intention of dismantling and making a bonfire of our timber hoardings,” he said.

“Three people, who look like they are in their late teens, put a huge amount of effort and energy into carrying out the demolition.

“They look like they are hard at work, it’s quite extraordinary.”

The spokesman stressed the company was keen to provide ‘affordable’ homes for people in the area and employ local people to work on its sites.

The firm is investing £12 million on projects in Bradford and is also looking to build on sites in Bierley and Gaisby Lane.

“Buttershaw is the ideal place,” he said. “It’s a piece of derelict land that needs a company to invest in it.

“We are investing in it and we know it’s going to be a successful development.

“Bradford is a good place to be. We hope residents appreciate the fact we are putting a very large investment into Bradford and into the suburbs, which need a bit of regeneration.

“It is mindless vandalism. It makes us less enthusiastic about what we are doing in the area.”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said officers were investigating reports of criminal damage at the site, which took place at about 8.20pm on Thursday, July 29.

Anyone who has any information about the vandalism can phone West Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.