A community building that was opened by a member of the royal family has been damaged in a “concerted and mindless” act of vandalism.

The vandal has inflicted hundreds of pounds worth of damage on Keighley Civic Centre, which is operated by Keighley Town Council.

Three reinforced glass windows on the Spencer Street and Scott Street sides of the property were smashed, and a wall-mounted ashtray and cigarette stub bin was ripped from its fixture.

The centre was formally opened by Princess Anne in April 2012.

Civic centre committee chairman Councillor Peter Corkindale said: “I am appalled that someone in this town feels so aggrieved that mindless damage has been done to the civic centre, damage that will have to be repaired from the public purse.

“Nothing remotely like this has ever previously happened in the 11-year history of this council, so who in Keighley today is responsible for this outrage? It simply beggars belief.

“This was a concerted attack as no less than three windows were broken. It was not simply random.” Coun Corkindale said the holes in the thick, reinforced glass suggested the person responsible could have used a heavy implement such as a sledgehammer.

He added that the even more solid old police station cell windows were immediately behind the wrecked panels, so there had been no risk of anyone breaking into the building.

A spokesman for Airedale and North Bradford Police said: “This is currently under investigation and is being treated as criminal damage.

“If people have seen someone acting suspiciously outside the building overnight then could they please contact us on the 101 number or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

The vandalism at the civic centre was discovered on Thursday morning.