VANDALS have forced an Inverclyde youth centre to close after causing £3,500 worth of damage.

Yobs broke into the iYouth Zone in Port Glasgow overnight Monday into Tuesday and stole equipment before going on a wrecking spree.

The centre, based in the former Boglestone Library at Dubbs Place, opened in 2015 following a £156,000 investment by Inverclyde Council.

Not the local authority has been hit with a bill for £3,500 to repair the damage.

An Inverclyde Council spokesman said: “Any break-in or act of vandalism is an appalling act.

“When a public facility which is well used is involved it is a loss to our community.”

The centre has been closed since Tuesday to help police with their investigation and allow for repairs.

Youth workers were yesterday continuing the clean-up operation and hope to re-open the doors next week.

Staff and the young people who use the popular community hub are said to be ‘gutted’ that it has been targeted.

An appeal has been issued for any eyewitnesses or anyone with information about the break-in to contact police urgently.

A council spokesman said: “We’ll be closed for a very short time and on Monday we’re aiming to be back open as good as new. We’d urge anyone who knows anything about this to come forward to the police.

“We’d also appeal directly to the person or people who did this: get in touch with the police yourself, show some remorse and help to fix what you have done.”

The iYouth zones in Greenock and Gourock and other Inverclyde Community Learning and Development services are continuing to operate operating as normal.

Anyone with information about the break-in at the Port facility can contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.