SECURITY has been stepped up and police alerted after an outbreak of vandalism at a centre which helps severely disabled young children.

Teenage yobs broke down the fence in two places at the Sanderson Child Development Centre in the grounds of Medway Maritime Hospital at Gillingham. .

They ripped up manholes and damaged spongy matting, laid down to prevent children hurting themselves.

“But this is just the latest incident,” said the centre manager Ann Palmer. “Most weekends and throughout the summer holidays we suffer these attacks by vandals.

“Security staff were called out 30 times one weekend last summer. On another occasion the youths flooded the sensory garden.

“Sometimes the vandals come while the centre is open. They shout abuse and use foul language. If it goes on like this children will not be able to go outside, which will be tragic because they benefit so much from the specialised play equipment we have here.”

The Sanderson Centre helps children with multiple disabilities to develop to their maximum potential. Last year, a sensory garden, created with funds donated by Medway schools and voluntary groups, was officially opened. “I wish parents could drive home to teenagers how important the centre is to the children who come here,” said Ann.

“If they could see how they benefit, they might not cause damage.”

Medway police said officers were investigating the vandalism and a community officer was looking into the problem.

The chief executive of Medway NHS Trust Andrew Horne said staff had been shocked and devastated by the wilful damage.

He said: “This is vandalism for the sake of vandalism. These people obviously have no appreciation for the work that goes on at the Centre. The garden is a vital therapeutic resource, offering physical, occupational and play therapy to children, who, in many cases, are not physically able to use play parks and leisure facilities other children use.

“Perhaps if these people could see the scores of children who use this garden and witness how this mindless vandalism has limited them in making use of it, they might think twice about their ignorant, inconsiderate and criminal behaviour.”

He said the area was under CCTV surveillance and the Trust was working with police and its own security teams.