A shed created with lottery cash for a community allotments project has been trashed by vandals only days after it was built.

It belonged to the New Earswick branch of the Workers' Educational Association which was set up to provide vocational training for farmers and has continued to open up further education opportunities for residents ever since.

The association won £400 lottery money to establish an allotments project which would make small plots available to residents, including those with disabilities.

It is intended as a therapeutic tool for residents.

Rhoda Holt, secretary of the association, said: "There are a lot of one-parent families, people with disabilities and people who aren't very well off in New Earswick and this project is intended for them.

"We decided to look for something a bit more imaginative and we decided to do the allotments project in conjunction with horticultural courses in the New Earswick Folk Hall."

The shed, which cost £150, was erected at the allotments near what is known as 'Sleeper Path', in New Earswick, last week.

The tools being stored in the shed were removed and taken elsewhere after its padlock was smashed open and then the structure was razed to the ground at the weekend.

Rhoda said: "Last Sunday it was completely flattened by vandals. We're going to put it back up again, but I've heard it is part of a big spate of vandalism in the area which has taken place over the last month.

"Most of us work and we fit all this into our spare time so we all feel a bit sickened because we know it's going to be a lot of hard work to put it up again.

"It's a bit of a blow, but it's not going to defeat us."

PC Sean Ryder, community officer for New Earswick, said he did not yet have any clues to the identity of the vandals but he condemned their actions.

"It was a particularly nasty attack," he said.

"Whoever is responsible has completely demolished the shed and left nothing but a pile of planks on the ground.

"They've really gone to town on it and they've obviously taken their time.

"The area is quite secluded which probably explains why no-one heard anything."

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