HEARTLESS vandals have left a Bolton charity without its minibus after pelting it with stones.

Bolton Service User Recovery Forum (BSURF) offers support to people in recovery from addiction, and uses the vehicle to take clients and their families on day outs and other activities designed to help with their rehabilitation.

The charity minibus was attacked this week. A large window on the right side of the van took the brunt of the damage, but the stones also resulted in dents and chips on the body of the vehicle.

“It was definitely malicious and it looks like the stones had been thrown from the nearby bridge,” said Mark Yates, chairman of BSURF. “The sad thing is the type of people who are responsible for the damage are probably the same people who we will see in a few years time.

“Addicts have a very destructive mentality and it usually develops into them being self-destructive.

“The damage has left me sad and disappointed rather than angry.”

The minibus was bought with a £36,000 grant from Bolton Council three years ago. It was specially-made to accommodate 16 passengers and a driver.

As well as being used to ferry clients to healthy indoor and outdoor activities, such as camping, and enabling them to enjoy days out with their family network on day trips to places like Alton Towers, it is also leased out to other charity groups in the area.

Mr Yates is hopeful that the damage can be repaired soon — a local business has already offered to replace the door panel — but the attack is already causing more immediate problems. He said: “We were planning on using it to transport a lot of musical equipment, but we will have to delay that now.”

A music group is one of many activities that BSURF provides at its Knowlsey Street base.

Along with other groups like craft groups, and men’s and women’s groups, the charity is also in partnership with Preston College. Through this partnership, more than 300 clients have gone on to further and higher education.

Mr Yates said: “Once a month we also have a ‘Dry Night’,which includes events like bingo and karaoke. It provides a safe environment for clients to get back into the habit of socialising but without any of the temptations.

“We also have an ‘all you can eat’ brunch club where clients can pay just £1. Tesco and Warburtons provide the food for which we are extremely grateful.”

BSURF is located at 37 Knowsley Street, Bolton, BL1 2AS. To find out more about its services, email bsurfrecovery@gmail.com. Alternately, call in between 10am and 12.30pm.