ACTIVITIES for a variety of groups were ruined and damage was caused by burglars who forced their way into a community centre.

At least three intruders targeted Highfield Hall Community Centre in Marsh Lane, Farnworth, at 10.20pm on Sunday.

It was part of a spate of incidents during the past month that included break-ins at both Bodywise Ladies female-only gym and The D’Havilland Club in Gladstone Road.

Shelley Taylor, chairman of the charity that runs the venue, said: “It was not very nice - in fact, it’s terrible. It’s affected everybody. It was quite upsetting for me because we had to cancel the visits of community groups that we due to use the building over the rest of the day. We had Pupil Referral Unit school due to come in with about five young people for one-to-one sessions with a couple of teachers.

“Bolton Art Circle, who come in three or four times a week, and Angels Dance Fitness and Performance, who provide dance classes for children from three years old, could also not come in while the police investigated.”

The thieves ripped off a piece of the metal shutters and prised open a window.

They stole a laptop from a downstairs room and tried to carry away speakers but appear to have dumped them just outside the fire exit because they were too heavy.

Rain soaked and ruined the audio equipment and it will need to be replaced. Mrs Taylor said: “We’re trying to get the damage sorted out but I don’t know how much it will cost. We were able to open to the community again on Monday night.”

Highfield Hall Community Centre is owned by Bolton Council and leased by the charity, which bears most of the cost of maintenance and repairs.