Burglars and vandals have driven the boss of the historic Shipley Glen Cable Tramway to decide against renewing his lease on the tourist attraction into which he sank his life savings.

Today Mick Leak said a string of recent break-ins and vandalism had made up his mind to let the lease go when it expires in 2002 if a charitable group will take over its running.

Just before Christmas wreckers destroyed dozens of wooden cuts out which line the tramway's quarter mile track for its annual Santa Specials.

Mr Leak said there had been another five vandalism attacks since then and at the weekend burglars smashed their way into the tramway's museum shop in Higher Coach Road, Baildon.

The thieves took 500 postcards featuring classic 1900s adverts, 72 Happy Shopper greetings cards, valued at a total of £250, a small amount of cash and an extension. Damage likely to cost hundreds of pounds was done to a window and a 100-year-old Victorian till.

Mr Leak runs the 104-year-old line with his wife Maureen and last year helped set up a steering group in a bid to protect its future.

He said: "I'm getting heartily sick of it and can't keep standing these losses - it causes a lot of stress and if a trust can be formed to run the tramway I definitely won't renew the lease when it runs out.

"The stuff in the shop's not insured so it's a total loss - it's really depressing and a blow below the belt because we're struggling as it is. Things won't be replaced unless they are essential to running the tramway."

He urged anyone offered the distinctive old postcards, some of which are now out of print, to contact himself or the police

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