Hallowe'en rampage (From Penarth Times)

Hallowe'en rampage

A GANG of yobs caused more than 3,000 worth of damage at Penarth Leisure Centre after going on a Hallowe'en rampage.

And the latest incident takes the staggering toll of damage caused by vandals at the site over the past three years to more than 300,000.

On Monday the gang tore down four sets of mini goalposts from the fields behind the centre and threw them at the swimming pool windows, which cracked while people were still in the pool.

The perimeter fence on the pitch used by Cogan Coronation Football Club was also ripped up and catapults were used to fire marbles at the leisure centre windows, cracking panes of reinforced glass.

Leisure centre manager Scott Murray said: "The damage was caused bet-ween 9.30 and 10pm, while people were still using the facilities.

"A gang of about eight 16 to 18-year-olds were on the fields behind the leisurecentre when the goalpost was thrown at the swimming pool window.

"The police were on the scene very quickly.

"Again we find ourselves picking up the bill after yet another instance of mindless vandalism.

"We would much prefer these people to be using the facilities rather than destroying them."

Robert Peterson, of Harriet Street in Cogan, said: "As a local resident I think it's disgraceful."

Mike George of Penarth police said that a man from the Grangetown area of Cardiff has been arrested in connection with the vandalism.