Mindless vandals are threatening the existence of a 96-year-old company.

Herbert Roberts Ltd, a worsted dyer and finisher in Beechcliffe, has been plagued by broken windows and other vandalism for more than 20 years.

But now the problems are becoming more prevalent and staff have grown increasingly downbeat.

Following another incident last Friday morning, managing director Brian Rhodes said: "We have been in Keighley for nearly 100 years, but we are getting more and more problems with these vandals.

"It is just an on-going and never-ending problem. Every time there is a school holiday we are getting scores of windows smashed.

"For more than 20 years we have had these sorts of problems -- we are now talking about second or third generation vandals."

He said most of the problems were from broken windows, but when the firm's insurers visited the site last year they saw a burnt out car and decided to withdraw their cover after 21 years.

The number of insurance companies still covering such firms with vandalism has dropped to just four.

As well as having to replace broken panes, the glass was getting into the machinery and fabric causing further problems and needless costs and wastage, said Mr Rhodes.

He said: "This abuse makes me despair that people in Keighley, and particularly the youths carrying this out, do not know what they are doing to the town and its future employment prospects.

"Do they really want to stock supermarket shelves or flip burgers?

"Our staff are still here because they have highly-skilled and very interesting jobs."

He said a lot of the staff had become demotivated because of a lack of recognition of their skills and such blows were hitting the morale of the workforce.

He said: "We are battling like hell to stay afloat without these setbacks. And we are not just talking about the future of the company, but 43 people and the 43 families that they support."

One worker described the vandalism as mindless and unnecessary.

He said: "It is an unnecessary menace that we are simply getting fed up of.

"The vandalism is heart-breaking when we arrive at work and see the broken glass. It might seem like harmless fun, but it isn't to us."

Mr Rhodes added that the firm had begun to install closed circuit television with funding from the Single Regeneration Budget in an attempt to curb the problems.

The site is away from residential areas and well hidden, and he bemoaned the lack of powers and ability the police had in dealing with such crimes.

The company, which is based at Royd Works, Royd Lane, has been in Keighley for 96 years and at its current site since 1926.