HEARTLESS vandals who hit a woodland memorial garden at a community centre have been slammed.

The Springfield Centre, on Idlethorp Way, Thorpe Edge, fell victim to the mindless destruction over the weekend.

A number of windows of the sports hall were smashed, while some of the young sapling trees in the memorial garden were flattened and the fencing pulled out.

The damage is made all the more heartbreaking as some of the trees were planted by young people in memory of loved ones.

This now means that children and young people in the area will miss out on activities as money meant for them will have to be used to make the building safe and secure again.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle & Thackley), who is also Chair of Trustees at the centre, spoke of her devastation at the news.

She said: “It’s mindless. I’m sickened - it’s really difficult to even try and understand why someone would it in the first place.

“How do you explain it to a young person? It’s a very hurtful thing to do.

“It’s just senseless, there’s no rhyme or reason.”

Sending a message to the culprits, she said: “You sadden me.

“I’m really angry, but you make me sad.

“You must have very small and limited lives.”

Despite the heartache the damage has caused, many people have rallied around to offer help and support to the centre in any way they can.

One person wrote: “What I don’t understand is that the people vandalising this facility are the ones that this is aimed at.. parents need to take some responsibility.”

While another said: “Honestly makes my blood boil, what do they actually gain from this?

“Notoriety amongst other brainless thugs?? No idea.”

Police confirmed they had received a report of criminal damage and have urged anyone with information to come forward.

Inspector John Toothill, of Bradford East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This building and memorial garden are for the benefit of the community and this mindless damage directly impacts on the services that the centre is able to provide for children and young people in the area.

“I would urge anyone who heard or witnessed anything suspicious, or with information about those responsible, to contact us, quoting crime reference 13200059337.”

The nearby Rockwell Centre, which was recently hit by yobs twice in the space of a few days, described it as “another heartbreaking act of mindless vandalism”.

The centre, which offers different activities, groups and services to help people improve their lifestyle and health and wellbeing, was hit by a raid on New Year’s Eve and another a few days later.

It promoted police to step up patrols in the area.

At the time, the centre said: “Whoever did this is nothing more than a parasite thriving off of the discomfort and misfortunes of others.

“These people are utterly loathsome and despicable and the good people of Thorpe Edge shouldn’t have to put up with this type of behaviour.”