Vandals have angered people living on a Trowbridge estate, after they damaged a youth shelter so badly it has had to be removed.

The shelter stood next to the BMX track at the corner of the playing fields in Studley Green. It was a hit with youngsters, who decorated it themselves in a three-month-long art project.

Community leaders had welcomed its introduction after HSBC offered a £500 grant and Wickes gave a 20 per cent discount on materials for the project.

But two weeks ago vandals damaged the shelter and Trowbridge Town Council had to have it removed.

John Alford, chairman of the Studley Green Tenants and Residents Association, said: “The shelter was really good for the kids to use and it’s such a shame that it’s gone because of a small minority of people who have vandalised it.

“It used to be a bus shelter in Trowbridge town centre and when they wanted to remove it we said that it would be great to have something like that down here.

“They had put in metal seating but it was bolted together, so the vandals were able to just remove the bolts. If it had been welded there wouldn’t have been this problem. We want to see the shelter replaced and we will be asking the town council to consider this.

“We were never consulted about what should happen to the shelter. it just went. If we can get the town council to agree to put it back, we would happily try to raise some money to put towards the cost of replacing it because it was a good thing for the area.”

Cllr Jeff Osborn, who opened the shelter when he was Trowbridge’s mayor, said: “The council’s property team said that it was unsafe. We have to look at what can be done now that it is gone.

“The residents will have to consider applying for a grant to fund its replacement. It is definitely something that there is a need for.”