RAMPAGING youths have caused £15,000 worth of damage to a children's centre.

The young vandals ripped and burnt a huge sunshade, smashed windows and kicked a CCTV camera during three separate incidents at Fairchildes Children's Centre in New Addington.

A gang of unruly teenagers first targeted the building on the weekend of July 3.

When staff arrived for work the following Monday they discovered a £1,620 sail, which shades children from the sun, had been ripped apart after being used as a makeshift trampoline, before having holes burnt in it with cigarettes.

Cheryle Sutherland, manager of the centre in Fairchildes Avenue, said the damage was irreparable.

"We've been told that if the holes were any bigger than a 50 pence piece, there's nothing that could be done," she said.

"Not only are the burn marks quite big, but there is a huge rip through the sail because it couldn't take their weight.

"It will have to be completely replaced."

Reeling from the damage to their garden area, which was only opened last November, parents of children who use the centre were shocked when it was targeted again a week later.

First on July 10, a different group of teenagers caused further damage to the tattered canopy and then smashed a babies' sensory toy worth £500.

The next evening more vandals jumped into the grounds of the centre and climbed on to the roof before smashing windows, kicking a CCTV camera and hurling stones across the playground.

In all, Mrs Sutherland estimates more than £15,000 of damage was caused during the three incidents.

However, she warned would-be vandals that some of the youths involved had been caught on CCTV and were being investigated by the police.

"It's been very distressing for the parents. They just cannot understand why anyone would want to do this," she said.

Head teacher Ros Sandell, who is also head of neighbouring Fairchildes Primary School, branded the vandalism as "mindless".

She said: "It's upsetting for the children because a lot of what has been damaged is equipment they are used to being able to come and use.

"The ripped shade sail is particularly difficult to take because, given the weather, it was being used all the time.

"It's difficult to understand why local kids would want to come and damage an important community resource."

Catrina McPherson, whose two-year-old son Damon attends the children's centre, added: "It's such a shame that stupid kids feel they have to do such nasty things to have fun.

"The children's centre is such a wonderful place to visit and offers children a safe and fun place to play and learn.

"I just hope the police go and visit their parents and fine them.

"The parents of these nasty idiots should pay for the damage, then they might teach their children some respect."

Officers from the New Addington Safer Neighbourhood Team have visited the centre.

If you have information call the team on 020 8649 1492.