A new centre for disabled and disadvantaged people being built in Bridgnorth has been attacked by vandals who do not want it to open, managers claimed today.

Staff at Beacon Employment, the charity which will run the Station Lane centre, said they were shocked by the attacks.

Sandy Beech, of the charity, said: “We are having issues with someone who does not want us to be there. The locks have been glued up twice, once this weekend and once about a month ago. We have reported it to the police who are quite concerned and they are doing extra patrols.

“It means we have had to have the locks changed twice, which is expensive and ridiculous. But it is not going to stop us from opening because we have already spent thousands of pounds on the building.

“I really don’t know why it’s happening. The charity has been going for 15 years and we have never had problems like this before.

“Apparently rumours have been going around that we deal with drug addicts, which is not true at all, we have zero tolerance against drugs. We are moving in there to help the community.”

Police confirmed the incidents had been reported and spokeswoman Maria Hawkaluk appealed for anyone with information to contact Bridgnorth police on 08457 444888.

Mrs Beech said the centre was due to open after Easter and it would provide training for disabled people or those struggling to find work.