Police were this week hunting mindless yobs who trashed a West Lothian Scout hall.
Devastated youngsters returned to their base in Broxburn after enjoying a weekend at camp to discover all the windows had been broken and the floor inside littered with glass, bricks and broken bottles.
Scout leaders say the cost of replacing the floors and windows will run into thousands and are now looking at how they can fundraise to cover costs to avoid making an insurance claim.
The base at Station Road in Broxburn is owned by the 6th West Lothian Scouts company but is also regularly used by other groups in the area. Graeme Barrie, chair of the group, said the leaders and youngsters have taken heart from the support they have received from people in the community.
He continued: “The kids went off to Scout camp on the Friday and came back on the Sunday morning to find the hall had had all its windows broken.
“The kids are gutted. If they’re like me back then, I probably took more pride in my Scout hall than my own house.
“It’s their hall and some mean people have trashed it.
“ They were all asking about how much it will cost and some were even wanting us to use their pocket money.
“The Scout group isn’t funded by anyone like the council, we get nothing from anyone and then someone comes along and smashes all our windows.
“We’d rather not make an insurance claim because our premiums will go up so we’re looking into fundraising for the repairs.”
Graeme said the windows have been boarded up so the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts will still be able to meet there, as will the other groups that use the hall.
He pointed out that the Scouts are run entirely by volunteers and appealed to the public to get in touch if they can help.
Graeme continued: “We’ve had a lot of support from the Scouting movement who are behind us and the community.
“It’s nice to know there are a lot of people out there who think this is wrong.”
A police spokesperson said: “Police Scotland were made aware of vandalism of the Scout hall on Station Road in Broxburn, which occurred between 3pm on Friday, September 13, and 11am on Sunday, September 15.
“Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting 1554 of 15 September.”
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