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Kids pay for own Christmas party

20/12/2001

YOUNG Scouts had to raid their own piggy banks after cruel vandals went on the rampage and threatened to cancel Christmas.

Children from the 7th Worsley Scout Group on Bridgewater Street, which caters for boys, girls, and disabled children, stumped up the cash to pay for party food after they suffered the latest in a long line of attacks which has left the cash-strapped group with a massive repair bill.

Organisers and locals who were determined not to let the children down, rallied round to repair damage to the hut wall in time for the party but have been incensed by the attack and are pleading for thugs to leave them alone.

Scout leader Jean Singleton revealed the hut had frequently been broken into with thieves steeling anything from tents to first aid kits and uniforms.

She said yobs also hurl stones and bottles at the hut leaving both children and parents terrified.

Meanwhile, the spate of attacks has frightened some children away forcing the Scout group on a recruitment drive to attract new members.

Jean told us: "This could have ruined our Christmas party. We are very lucky to have had all the help. The vandals keep breaking the walls, they have even ruined pictures the Scouts have made which can't be replaced.

"Why do they keep picking on us? We are trying to work to keep people off the streets and trying to help children in the area.

"We have nothing of value for them but to us it's really important. The children get very frightened and parents get abuse and have stones thrown at them. Some parents don't bring their children anymore because they are afraid."

Jean is appealing for help from local companies in the hope that if money is spent on the hut and it is made more secure the vandals will leave them alone.

She said: "We really do need help and it would be really great if any local firms could help us."