AN historic visitor centre in Bolton has had to replace every one of its 30 windows after louts attacked it over a month-long campaign.

Staff at Rock Hall Visitor Centre, in Moses Gate Country Park, are having to clean-up after the vandals every morning and are struggling to run activities over the summer for children.

The club has had to spend more than £1,000 on repairing the windows.

The latest incident, on Monday night, which disgusted the eight staff, involved the vandals smearing human faeces on to the door handles and key holes and stuffing it through the letter box.

Senior ranger Julia Burrell said: "One of my team arrived at work to find the letter box, door handle and keyholes smeared with human faeces and more stuffed through the letterbox which is disgusting. They are depraved.

"There has been a spate of vandalism in the last month. We've had faeces smeared over the bird hide and all our windows have been smashed as well as some old lamps outside.

"It is very upsetting for the staff, we can't believe anyone would do this." Police are investigating the attacks, which are thought to be committed by youths.

Mrs Burrell said: "I don't know if we're getting such a lot of trouble because it's the school holidays -- maybe it's the combination of that and the light nights.

"It's difficult to cope with clearing up because we're already stretched with all the summer activities. We would appeal to the public to remain vigilant and inform the police if they see anything untoward."

The latest activity in the summer programme is The Lost Tribe of Cromptonia, due to be held today, where children will hunt for a fictional mythical tribe of Farnworth around the park.

Anyone with information about the attacks should ring the police on 0161 872 5050.