VANDALS caused almost £3,000 worth of damage after breaking into a construction training centre and throwing 30 tins of paint across a yard.

Residents living next to the Higher Croft Vocational Learning Centre, on Blackburn’s Fishmoor estate, saw up to 20 teenagers running across the roof at 5.30pm on Tuesday.

And when staff opened up the centre at 8.30am the following morning they found that their stocks of multi-coloured five-litre tins of paint had been hurled across a rear yard.

Play equipment next to the centre, where around 200 14-16-year-old pupils from high schools across Blackburn and Darwen go to take BTec courses in brick laying, painting and decorating and joinery, had also been daubed with paint.

Police said the vandals had broken in via a sky light and then forced open a rear door from the inside, breaking a steel roller shutter door in the process, before getting their hands on the oil and water based paints.

Centre manager Graham West said: “The irony is that the building they have damaged is called the Rainbow Room and now it certainly is a variety of different colours. It looks like something Rolf Harris might have done while on acid.

“It is disappointing, bec-ause it would appear teenagers have done the damage – but they are the ones who benefit from the courses that are on offer here. It is a setback for us because we will have to replace the paints and pay to have the damage cleaned up.”

Other buildings in the area, including the local children’s centres, have also been vandalised by bored youngsters over the past few weeks.

PC Phill Needham, from Blackburn Police, said: “This centre is used by many young people in the Higher Croft area and relies on local government funding, and funding from local schools.

“This is a community issue that will affect many people in the area, as the organisation cannot afford to keep on repairing damages that occur and could close, resulting in many young people in the area missing out on the opportunity to learn new skills, and build confidence within themselves.”

He added: “It is likely that the persons responsible for the terrible damage caused would have either paint stained clothing, or paint stained trainers, and I would urge anyone with any knowledge to contact police.”

Contact PC 3539 Needham on 01254 51212. Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.