VANDALS have been tearing apart a historic Swindon landmark.

Lead thieves have been breaking into the site of the dilapidated Mechanics' Institute in Emlyn Square.

In the latest incident two men climbed the scaffolding to take lead from the southern roof of the crumbling listed building on June 14.

When police were called to the scene two other men were found trespassing at the Victorian Railway Village landmark.

Swindon police also believe metal thieves were at work on the site on June 10 after a van loaded up with lead was seen leaving the area.

Mathew Singh, who owns the Mechanics' Institute, confirmed lead had been stolen from the building, but said keeping vandals out was nearly impossible.

"I don't think a lot of lead is missing, but how can you stop it?" he said.

"People have got onto the runway at Heathrow and inside the Houses of Parliament, so if someone wants to get into the Mechanics' then they will no matter what security we have.

"Even when we had a 24-hour security guard three years ago we still had kids who got in and sprayed graffiti. We caught them, but that's not the point.

"It is an empty building, so of course it is going to be targeted.

"If anything, the trespassing and vandalism shows that something needs to be done with the building."

Town centre beat manager Sgt Chris Parsons said the disused building was the perfect site for a hot bed of crime.

"It is a disused building that seems to be targeted a lot," said Sgt Parsons.

"It is a prime example of the kind of places people try to get metal from roofs.

"The Mechanics' is an old building with some valuable materials, and while it is not being used people will sadly be inclined to commit crimes there.

"It has been proving pretty hard to keep people out of the site and there is a danger to their own safety in that too."

In March a teenage girl had to be lifted off the roof of the Mechanics' by firemen after breaking into the site.

New Mechanics' Trust co-ordinator and Railway Village resident Martha Parry said: "The Mechanics' site is insecure and an invitation to disaster.

"This has been going on for months and there has been no change at all.

"We need to stop it before irreparable damage is done to this piece of our heritage."

Last February a group calling themselves the Urban Explorers snuck into the dilapidated building at night, climbed to the highest point to look around, then published photos on a website.

Swindon police said trespass was not a criminal offence but advised people to stay out to avoid being trapped in the building.