BROWNIES and Guides in Blackwood fear the vandalism which has plagued their hut for several years could force them to close down.

Vandals attempted to break into the hut, which is just off Blackwood High Street, over the Christmas period.

First Blackwood Brownie guider, Wendy Meredith, 50, says this is just the latest in a long line of vandalism attacks and fears it is getting too expensive to maintain the building.

She claims there have been problems in the past with windows being smashed, padlocks being stolen and smashed bottles being left outside the building.

Mrs Meredith said: "The problem has been going on in spates for several years now.

"It seems to stop and start and we're getting fed up of it - it's a real shame for the children."

In the latest attempt to break in, vandals removed a pane of double-glazed glass and crow barred the lock on the door.

Now the group say they will have to shell out £300 to repair the damage - money the group had raised to repair a leak in the roof.

Mrs Meredith said: "It's gutting. We raised that money with a Christmas coffee morning, running a bus trip to Bath and with the guides bag packing in Asda and now we have to spend it repairing the door.

"We are a voluntary organisation and everything we do is being undone again.

"If it keeps on, we just won't have the money to keep the building going.

"It would be such a shame if we were forced to close due to repeated vandalism from a small minority of people."

She also warned vandals that there is nothing of value kept in the hall, just chairs, tables and craft equipment.

Sergeant Jonathan Harris at Blackwood police station said that the hut is within the police patrol plan.