A Dumfries community garden project could be scrapped following a spate of vicious vandalism.
The Sandside Gardening Project has been targeted in recent weeks.
But in the latest episode, thugs broke through perimeter fencing, slashed a plastic covering on a greenhouse, ripped up plants and hurled them around the grounds.
Chairman of the group, Paul McGregor, says he is sickened and fears the project could fold.
It was launched by Mr McGregor in 2015 and recruits volunteers young and old to grow and tend plants at the venue at the junction of Sunderries Road near Stakeford Street in the town.
He said: “The other members are getting fed up and thinking of walking away if it continues.
“We have had vandalism before, but the last few weeks have been the worst for a long time and all we seem to be doing is repairing things.
“We have set up a go fund me page to pay for CCTV.
“It seems to have been older kids and if I was fit I would chase them.
“If it continues to keep getting damaged, then it will end up closing altogether.”
The Standard told in February how the project had been given a boost after Scottish Power and the council teamed up to install electricity to the centre.
Mr McGregor said: “It is now an ongoing project and always evolving despite it being all volunteers on the committee.
“We are a small group and we do what we can.
“The vandalism is awful after all the hard work everyone has put in to get this ready.”
