LEADERS of Northwich Gingerbread Club were faced with an unhappy start to the New Year after vandals targeted their centre over Christmas.

More than £700 worth of damage was caused to the Winnington Street drop-in centre as a result of the incident, which took place overnight between Thursday, December 28 and Friday, December 29.

The culprits threw bricks at the National Lottery-funded centre, which caters for single parents and their children, smashing an 8ft by 9ft window and a 3ft by 4ft window.

Secretary Liz Beaumont said the club had closed on December 23 for the festive period, but the windows were still intact when a member of staff visited the centre during the afternoon of December 28.

The incident is a further setback for the Gingerbread Club, which was devastated by fire almost 18 months ago and cost £8,000 to refurbish.

Northwich police spokesman DS John Maddock said: "This is a particularly mindless incident of vandalism.

"The offenders clearly had not given any thought to the fact that Gingerbread is a charitable organisation."

Anyone who may able to help police with their enquiries is urged to contact them on 01606 48000 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

The Gingerbread centre is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 11am to 2pm, for single mums and dads.