A SCOUT and Guide group is facing a £40,000 fundraising effort to pay for the renovation of their building, which has become a target for vandals and thieves.

Craig Hall, of Howden-le-Wear, near Crook, has been plagued by youths smashing windows and thieves stealing camping and other equipment for the past two years.

Now the group's leaders hope to raise funds to renovate the building, a converted cinema, or face moving elsewhere.

Alan Mangles, Scout leader at the hall and assistant district commissioner for Crook and Weardale Scouts, said: "They are just breaking the windows and we can't replace them fast enough, so I'm having to board them up. We have a committee of parents and they are the ones who have to raise the money to pay for them. It is just getting out of hand at the moment.

"It needs some money to do it up and make it look decent, and we would be looking at about £40,000 to do that."

In the latest incident, over the Christmas holidays, thieves stole a bag of sports equipment, including footballs, hockey sticks and training cones, which had been awarded to the group from a sports fund run by British Telecom. A tent, three folding chairs and a gas heater also went missing.

The Howden-le-Wear Scout and Guide Group committee bought the two-storey building more than 20 years ago.

Mr Mangles said the attacks increased when a tenant who lived next to the building moved two years ago.

"I don't keep any equipment down there now," he said.

"We're going to have to put it back into a decent state of repair or consider moving . But even if we move we have nowhere to store our gear. We are hoping to get grants from different charities and trusts, including the National Lottery."

Anyone who would like to help is asked to contact (01388) 763051