A HEALTH centre has had its windows smashed so many times it is putting up a barricade in an attempt to keep vandals out.

At one point Ingol Health Centre, in Tanterton Hall Road, was targeted so many times by vandals that staff refused to replace the broken glass and left windows boarded up for more than a month.

Patients waiting for treatment had no choice but to sit in the grim surroundings which one health centre patient has described as "a war zone".

"I went there one day and thought, they have moved without telling us. Every single window was boarded up and it looked like it was closed," she said.

The woman, who wished not to be named, added: "Inside it was even worse, you couldn't look out of the windows, it was really grim, not a place where you want to take your children to see the nurse or doctor."

A spokesman for the centre said that every time the windows were replaced, they were smashed again almost immediately.

Staff believe children are behind the attacks and have held meetings with the police to decide what further action to take.

Now bosses at the Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the surgery, have brought in the builders to construct an 8ft high 'prison-like' security fence around the building to keep the vandals at bay. Helen Stevenson, director of human resources and corporate development at the centre, said: "We are now working closely with the local police on community issues in an effort to reduce the number of incidents of vandalism.

"The security fence is shortly to be erected as one of the measures we are taking. Once this has been completed the windows will be re-glazed."

The fence is expected to be completed by the end of this week.

A police spokesman said: "Mindless vandalism like this does cause the police far too many problems.

"If people know anybody involved they should tell us so that we can take appropriate action."

Anyone who thinks they know something about this incident should call Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.