VANDALS tried to burgle and damage a nursery and community centre in Walcot.

South Swindon Police have received a number of reports of criminal damage and attempted burglaries in that area since April 30 and are appealing for information.

PCSO Philip Day said: "These mindless acts of vandalism are targeting services within the community that are there for members of the public to make use of and benefit from. Instead, they are being regularly targeted by groups of young people.

"We are following up a number of lines of enquiries at this time. In the meantime, we request that all parents are fully aware of where their children are and what they may be up to should they be out of the house during evening hours and into the early hours of the morning.

"Don’t let it be your children that are trying to damage the local amenities and ruin them for the local community."

Officers from the South Swindon Community Policing Team will be actively patrolling with a Section 35 Dispersal Order in the area of the Buckhurst Community Centre tonight.

Any young people within the dispersal area who raise the suspicions of the police will be taken home by officers who will speak to their parents.

Anyone who can help police with their investigation into these reports should call Wiltshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.