MINDLESS thugs' have wrecked the garden of a Whitton charity and its tight budget means that the damage could take some time to fix.

The vandals struck at Homelink, a respite day centre on Hospital Bridge Road which helps relieve carers of people with long term illnesses, on Thursday night.

Pots and plants which were donated to the centre by generous businesses were smashed during the attack. The centre's development manager Paul Skelly said: "These people are mindless thugs. They were very energetic, as they were large pots and planting containers which they lifted over their heads and smashed them to the ground. They also tried to upturn the chairs and tables but they were bolted down.

"I am just exasperated. We are a charity and everything in the garden had been donated to us." The garden is very popular among the centre's clients, who are mostly elderly. But the repairs will have to wait until the centre has enough money. Mr Skelly said: "We will have to wait for another donation before we can repair the damage. We run on a very tight budget and luxury items like this have to come after the day to day running."

He added that if anyone would like to support their cause, it would be much appreciated'. You can call on 8255 1993.