A THERAPY centre manager has hit out at thieves who stole lead from the organisation's roof.

Staff at the Thamesdown Hydrotherapy pool, in Jefferies Avenue, are furious with the crooks.

About 50 metres of lead were rolled up and taken away in the latest of a number of similar incidents in the town.

"This really is a senseless act," said Paul Charlwood, who manages the pool.

"What kind of cruel and heartless people would do this? Why target us? We are here to help people.

"I think this was planned as they must have had a van to transport the lead away.

"We have to raise money for our charity each year and this will now divert funds away from that."

The centre aims to raise between £28,000 and £32,000 a year. Mr Charlwood said it would cost an extra £2,000 to repair the roof.

"We are also looking at extra security provisions, which would mean £3,500 spent in total," he added.

The pool is a warm water facility, which is the essential requirement for hydrotherapy treatment. It is maintained at 92F with the air temperature balanced to match.

Despite the theft the pool, which measures 13.5m by six metres and is between 0.8m and 1.5m deep has remained open to users. Repairs are now under way, with only half of the costs covered by insurance.

This is not the first time the centre has been targeted by vandals as seven years ago a similar incident occurred.

In Monday's Advertiser we reported how thieves stole lead from the roof of St John the Baptist Church in Park North.

Police investigating the theft described the crime, which took place during daylight near a busy road, as brazen.

The Rev Rob Burles was taking a summer break in Lancashire when three people scaled the roof of the church.

Thamesdown Hydrotherapy pool opened in 1979 and is a unique purpose-built facility available to any individual with a disability whether the disability is permanent or temporary.

Its users have a wide range of disabilities including brain damage, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, arthritis, blindness, deafness and asthma. Amputees, people with severe back problems and those recovering from operations also benefit from it.

Every week the pool is used by 700 different people and since the pool was open it has been used over 650,000 times.

The centre is seeking volunteers to run on its behalf in the Swindon half marathon on Sunday, October 14.

For more information about the facility call 01793 496002.

Anyone with information on the theft should contact Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.