A children’s club on a Bradford estate has been left out of pocket after vandals slashed the tyres on its minibus.

Dawn and Gary Hodgson, who run Playsafe for youngsters aged five to eight in Ravenscliffe, said the vehicle had been targeted while it was parked outside their home in Thackeray Road.

Mrs Hodgson, 41, said: “We hire it out to other community groups and the money goes straight for the children. We really need it.

“The club has been going about eight years now and the children love it.

“We were planning taking them to a pantomime but now that looks as though it’s not going to be able to happen. We don’t really have the money or means to do it.”

Mrs Hodgson said the van was insured but a claim for new tyres would make the renewal more expensive. The group was already short of funds after paying for a new engine.

“We desperately need some wonderful person or garage in Bradford to help us out and get the van on the road again,” she said.

Mr Hodgson carries out torchlight patrols around the neighbourhood after a series of recent shed break-ins.

Last weekend his pigeon shed was broken into and two of his grandson’s birds had their necks wrung.

Mrs Hodgson said: “We’re not sure if it was the same people but it all happened around the same time we think.

“The minibus has children’s pictures on it and the club name. It’s obvious it’s for the community so whoever has done this has done it deliberately and out of sheer malice.”

Mr and Mrs Hodgson run Playsafe at the Ravenscliffe Youth and Community Centre on Roundwood Avenue.

Anyone who can help should call the club at the community centre on (01274) 641772.