YOUNGSTERS have been left devastated after vandals damaged a shelter made of willow, which they had created for the community.

The youth committee of Hoddlesden Millennium Green came up with the idea of creating the arbour themselves, applied for a grant to build it and then spent a weekend in October constructing it on The Green.

But the structure has been ripped apart by yobs.

Chair of Hoddlesden Millennium Green committee, Linda Dawson, said the youngsters, who are aged 10 to 16, and villagers had been left angry and upset by the vandal attack.

She said: "Someone just trashed it so they are very upset about it.

"Everybody has admired it - it was a special thing - and it was the idea of the children.

"There's been a lot of input into The Green from local people and I've had a lot of phone calls from people saying that they were disappointed that somebody had done this."

The youth group, known as The GREENis, aims to make The Green more interesting and accessible to youngsters. They created the arbour as a living structure which was to grow to create a shelter.

But the yobs have unravelled the structure and snapped off the branches.

The youngsters are hoping to repair the arbour which was designed by eco artist Jeff Allen.

It is estimated they will have to raise £500 to pay for it.

Mrs Dawson said: "Somebody has gone in and broken some of the branches and pulled them through deliberately so it's going to be really hard to get them back in.

"We'll have to get some new willow as soon as we can and work together on this.

"We are determined to do this and need some help.

"If people know anything about this they must report it."

Sergeant Joe Worden of Darwen CID said: "It's a shame in a local village as it's something for the community to be proud of.

"It's worrying in a small community when something like this happens."

Anyone with information on the vandalism can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or police on 01254 353830.