WORK to restore the historic Rivington Gardens is being hampered by mindless young vandals who are targetting the site on an almost daily basis and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Since Easter, mindless yobs, some of who are thought to be schoolchildren, have broken in and damaged historical structures including the famous Pigeon Tower.

Now more CCTV is to be installed on the site and patrols will be stepped up to catch those responsible and site managers will be contacting local schools following the vandal attacks.

The gardens are being restored in a £4.2 million project for the public to enjoy. It is being supported by volunteers.

Andrew Suter, heritage projects manager at Groundwork, said: "Over the past few months our contractors have worked incredibly hard in the gardens.

"On an almost daily basis their work has been vandalised and we have had repeated break ins to the Pigeon Tower and other structures causing damage and destroying their work. We've also experienced theft of project material from the Great Lawn Summerhouse following events."

He said: "The vandalism started just after Easter.

"People were climbing the scaffolding put up around the Pigeon Tower and starting ripping the tiles off and the timber off the scaffolding.

"The have used a car jack to force the door or if tis hinges, broken through locks and chains."

And in some cases, Mr Suter said they would using a vehicle try and rip the scaffolding of the tower and metal railing of other structures.

The scaffolding has been removed from the tower, and windows and the door have been made vandal proof, but there are worries for other historical structures on the site which are being worked on. Vandalism would mean the cost could run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Last Thursday, young people dressed in school uniform starting verbally and physically abusing contractors, working on the project.

Mr Suter said: "A group of youths, who should presumably be in school locally, had been harassing them while they work and throwing stones at them. They've returned to their vehicles at lunch to find stones have been thrown through the windows."

He said: "This project is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we only have finite resources, so money we have having to spend on repairs means we cannot spend it elsewhere.

"The vandalism, which seems to be escalating is setting the project back.

"The vast majority of people are very supportive and are incensed by what is happening. It is upsetting for everyone involved in it and very frustrating for us.

"We are putting up more CCTV around the area and we will be patrolling the gardens more. We have spoken to the police and will be contacting local schools."

Mr Suter said: "The police are already stretched and we have people with mischief in mind going to the gardens."

Mr Suter urged people who have any information or see people committing acts of vandalism to report it but not to approach those responsible for their own safety.

Incidents can be reported to Rtg@groundwork.org.uk or on Facebook on the Rivington Terraced Gardens page.