YOUNGSTERS will lose out in the long run by continuing to cause vandalism to the Ockment Centre, centre staff have said.
Hundreds of pounds is being spent repairing the roof on the property only for slates to be kicked off at the weekend, said development officer Mandy Kenyon.
'It's been going on for two or three weeks and, according to our neighbours, children are the culprits,' she said. 'The place is being wrecked.
'It means spending extra money on the roof which could be used subsidising the internet cafe for the children.'
PC Dave Woodland said the centre had been a bit of a target for vandalism recently.
'The area is being patrolled and any young people caught in the vicinity will be under suspicion,' he said.
'The Ockment Centre is a valuable resource for the local community and it could spend its money better for the benefit of the people of Okehampton if it did not have to spend it on repairing minor vandalism.'