ANTI-SOCIAL yobs torched plastics and damaged gates at a scout hut as part of a continued spree of vandalism.

Constant damage has been caused to the Tiptree Scout Hut over the previous two months after a previous spate last year.

The latest attack was last Wednesday when pipes and gates were vandalised and youngsters are often seen scaling onto the roof.

Chairman of the group Dennis Mannina said some scout volunteers were also worried about the presence of the youngsters.

He said: "It has been going on for at least two months.

"We have made two reports to the police but within six hours they said the investigation had been closed.

"It is going to end up costings us hundreds of pounds to fix.

"But it can be intimidating as well.

"The girls and boys who are doing it can be quite anti-social towards to the scout leaders in the evening.

"Sometimes they can end up feeling quite scared."

Mr Mannina said the culprits are often quite brazen towards people who live near the hut in Pit Lane.

He said: "The neighbours say they often see them running on the roof.

"It is a little road with only six houses and no CCTV cameras so I guess they feel as if they can do what they like.

"They have set fire to some plastics which scorched the building.

"The pipes which are plastic are broken - there is only one pipe they haven't managed to break which is steel.

"I guess they just haven't figured out how to break it."

Mr Mannina said he had no idea why the scouts were constantly being targeted.

He said: "We do a lot of work for the community.

"When the village celebrated the Queen's birthday we lit a beacon for the event and we are very happy to be asked and to be involved.

"But for some reason we are being targeted.

"I don't know exactly why.

"For some reason it seems to come and go in waves - some years you don't seem to get any problems but then other times you cannot get away from them."