A gang of vandals is targeting vegetable patches, greenhouses and huts at allotments in Saltaire.

The vandals, believed to be teenagers, have burnt down huts, smashed windows and damaged equipment over a period of more than a year at the Saltaire (Canal Side) Allotments off Victoria Road in the village.

Now tenants at the 25 allotments on the site are demanding a greater police presence in the area so the youths can be caught.

Roland Dale, 68, of Hirst Wood, said his greenhouse windows had been regular targets over the past month. "We've all got the feeling that we're in fear even though we know there's nothing to be scared about personally," said Mr Dale. "This is a beautiful spot and all this vandalism is upsetting.

"I must admit that my morale went down when my greenhouse was smashed up.

"What I'm going through now is trying to decide whether to stump up the expense to fix the greenhouse or leave it because if I do fix it, it will just be targeted again."

Mr Dale, who has rented the allotment for £30 a year from land owners and London-based textile manufacturers Illingworth Morris since 1994, said other tenants are also concerned about a vagrant who has been sleeping in an abandoned hut on one of the allotments.

Ann Derbyshire, who has rented an allotment on the site for more than 20 years, said the recent vandalism is the worse she can remember in her years as a gardener at the picturesque spot.

"The vandalism has been endless this year. I would have shot these people if I'd had the chance," said the 72-year-old of Wycliffe, Shipley. "There has always been some damage I could fix but it's getting to the point where I can't fix the breakages each time.

Councillor Tony Miller (Lab, Shipley East) said he had every sympathy with the allotment tenants.

"I think we need to focus on this before it gets out of hand," he said.

"I hope we can put this on the agenda at the next neighbourhood forum so we can look at security measures at the allotments."

Sergeant Paul Robinson, a member of the problem-orientated policing team based at Bingley police station, said: "An officer will be going down to the allotments later this week and will be meeting tenants to see what crime-prevention methods could be introduced. Allotments are very difficult to secure because of the very many access points and lack of power points but we will discuss the options."