Staff at a riding centre for the disabled who discovered a man sleeping in their outside toilet for three days say repeat vandalism is pushing them to the brink.

Animals and staff at the Arrow Riding Centre in Darenth Park Avenue, Dartford, have been targeted by yobs with costly paddock fencing kicked down and windows smashed with catapults.

Ponies used by Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) groups escaped due to the damage which will now cost thousands for the charity to replace.

Since September, volunteers say they have seen an upsurge in vandalism with buildings and horse box windows repeatedly smashed.

On one occasion, a lit firework was thrown at a member of staff and a horse. Constant fly-tipping has also been reported on site.

In a further bizarre twist, volunteers found a man living in the outside toilets for three days.

He left when asked and is reported to have wound up at the centre after being rehoused in Bexley. He originally lived more than 20 miles away in Tower Hamlets but left his new accommodation because "he didn't like it".

The toilets were later vandalised in what staff believe to be an unconnected incident, with fire lighters found discarded inside.

Natalie Scott, yard manager at the centre, said: "We are victims of constant vandalism and all crimes have been reported.

"Vandals from the local area come in over the fence at night, probably some sort of kids."

The head coach put up a message on social media to deter vandals and says things have thankfully "quietened down" in the last few weeks but says staff still fear further attacks.

She added: "The police came to see us that day I put the message out on Facebook. There is not much they can do but they have taken photographs as evidence."

It's come as a huge blow for the riding school which has been forced to shut for much of the past two years due to Covid.

The riding school is now appealing for donations to help them cover the damages, running costs, and their 11 therapy ponies. Click here to donate.

The 34-year-old said: "We are a charity which provides physio and horse riding to disabled children and adults.

"Right now we do not know what to do as being a charity we cannot afford to fix the issues, especially having almost two years of not working.

She added: "We are trying to get back to work and it is really difficult because as soon as we get any money we are spending it on repairs.

"There is £6,000 on fences that have been taken down. We've got to replace a window that has been catapulted and a light we have had to to pay for as well."

It's not the first time the riding school has been targeted with thieves breaking in and stealing hundreds of pounds worth of equipment just days before Christmas in 2019.

The centre was founded in 1982 by the Dartford Lions and is self-funded, relying on regular donations to keep going.

They cater for special needs schools and riders of all ages and a range of physical and mental abilities.

In 2017 the riding school welcomed horse lover Princess Anne as part of its 35th anniversary.

Her Royal Highness arrived via helicopter, touching down at the nearby Leigh Academy, and was shown round the centre and introduced to those who keep it running.

At the time the centre was aiming to raise more than £200,000 for a few key projects later that year, including £196,000 for an extension of the indoor area, which would make it eligible to host qualifying events for the Paralympics.