Volunteers working to improve a patch of Denholme have been forced to "stake out" the area at night to prevent thieves and vandals destroying their hard work.

Members of Denholme Environment Action Group have been toiling away on the project outside the Mechanics' Institute, in Main Road, for around ten days.

But drastic action had to be taken to stop youths destroying the work by riding bikes over stone walls, which had just been cemented, leaving them in danger of collapse.

The group has also been forced to resort to carrying any unused materials back into the Mechanics' Institute at night to prevent theft.

Bryan Church, a member of the group, said: "We've been going just over a week and working with an employed contractor. But just like in any area, kids misbehave and use the walls, which we were working on, as a skateboard park.

"We've done neighbourhood watches from 4.30pm until 10.30pm as a way of stopping the kids doing this.

"What's worse is taking all the tools and unused equipment back into the Mechanics' Institute at the end of the day. We have to keep lugging parts of the stone wall about."

Denholme town councillor Anne Jay hit out at the youths, who are set to get their own skateboard park this summer.

Cllr Jay said: "I think it's very sad that the volunteers who are working so hard for the good of the village and the people in Denholme should suffer hassle and abuse.

"The area around the Mechanics' Institute will be lovely once it's finished and it's so disappointing that people are making it so difficult.

"One wall was pushed over and it makes things so much harder for the volunteers," she said.

Funding for the project, which is being undertaken by volunteers, has come from Bradford Vision.

The development will radically change the frontage of the Mechanics' Institute.

A new stone wall and benches will be built, hanging baskets installed and shrubs, trees and flower beds planted in front of the building.

The action group has already transformed land opposite the 4x4 garage into an amenity for the whole town.

The Mayor of Denholme Town Council, Cllr Maxine Brotherton, said: "Before the start of the work, kids used to ride bikes on the wall and over the flower beds with their BMXs, destroying them.

"We didn't want the kids messing up the wall while it was still being cemented."

Cllr Brotherton also confirmed that flags outside the building had been stolen in the past.

The project will get an official opening later this year.