A HORTICULTURAL project for adults with learning difficulties is being forced out of its Skipton home after vandals attacked their facilities.

The group turned up for their classes on Friday only to find that their hard work had been destroyed for the fifth time.

Vandals had sliced through two polytunnels used to house plants and gardening equipment. It will cost thousands of pounds to repair.

Now, leaders desperately want to find a new base for the tunnels and a workshop before another attack.

The Stepping Stones project is a scheme to teach adults with learning difficulties various skills. It runs a gardening business and offers landscaping, grass cutting, planters and so on to residents and businesses throughout Craven.

The project has been such a success during its first three years that the money raised through contracts has been enough to buy plug plants and seeds for the following year.

Group leader Mike Topham said he was distraught last Friday when he turned up to find someone had sliced 14 large holes into the polytunnels. This is the fifth and most serious act of vandalism.

"This is the point where it could jeopardise how well the scheme can work," said Mr Topham. "Why can't people see that what we are doing is of benefit to disadvantaged people and the community?"

He added that all the projects being run from the Snaygill site were being moved to new premises in the future. But he thought the Stepping Stones group needed to move more quickly if it was to continue its success.

The group is determined to carry on. The cost of new polythene is being calculated and hopefully the tunnels will be re-skinned and will last until new premises can be found.

Mr Topham suggested that perhaps a farmer who had struggled because of foot and mouth might like to lease a small amount of land and workshop.

In the meantime the group is thinking about installing a security camera. "Somebody must know who is doing this. These youngsters were walking round carrying a knife. They are a potential danger on the streets," said Mr Topham.

Skipton Inspector Tad Nowakowski said: "I suspect those responsible are local kids and they will no doubt be aware that the place is used by persons with learning difficulties. I am shocked that they could commit these offences."

Anyone with information should contact Skipton Police on 01756 793377.