POLICE patrols are to be stepped up after vandals targetted a centre for the visually impaired.

The Vision Foundation in Ebbw Vale was vandalised when youngsters ripped off a gate to a nursery garden, overturned some benches and discarded empty beer cans.

Last summer, the centre had to dip into their funds to buy a CCTV system partly funded by a 5,000 grant from the South Wales Argus parent company Gannett after a suffering a catalogue of damage.

The attacks included air gun pellets being fired through a window, used syringes being dumped on the property and tin cans planted in the 100,000 sensory garden with their jagged edges left up.

The Vision Foundation opened in 1998 and serves visually-impaired adults and children throughout South East Wales.

Their fund-raising officer, Fiona Perkins, said she hopes the latest incident doesn't signal a new campaign of vandalism like they suffered last year.

"The garden cost in excess of 100,000 and is a great benefit to many children with visual impairments and other disabilities.

"However, if we continue to be at the receiving end of such mindless violence, it will put further strain on our already limited finances.

"Those who will be affected are the visually-impaired people who need our help."

She said: "The problem had gone down but it is now building up.

"There are gangs of children hanging around in the area during the evening.

"We would just like it to stop before it gets as bad as it was last year.

"I don't think these people realise how much the damage costs. It is such a shame."

Ebbw Vale councillor Brian Clements said: "I blame the parents because they are allowing their children to run around the area.

"They are not giving them the guidance they should. I'm appalled by it all."

Inspector Jon Everett, of Ebbw Vale police station, said: "We have had some minor damage on this occasion.