Thousands of pounds damage at new Bilston centre

Pellets have been fired at the new £18.6million leisure centre in Bilston in a string of attacks in recent weeks, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, it emerged today.

Police have been called to the Bert Williams Leisure Centre three times in the past six weeks after vandals fired suspected pellet guns, shattering the windows.

Ward councillor Stephen Simkins today called for increased police patrols and extra CCTV cameras in a bid to cut down on the problems caused by "mindless idiots".

The centre has been hit fives times this year, with each incident occurring overnight.

Councillor Simkins called the crimes "unforgivable".

"It's a state of the art project and some mindless idiot, for whatever reason, is shooting at it with pellets," Councillor Simkins said.

"The people of Bilston are demanding that something be done – we want drastic action taken.

"I'll be asking for full-time security to be put on but we also need CCTV and I'd ask that police increase their patrols."

The most recent shots were fired overnight on June 14.

Previous incidents took place on the nights of January 11, March 15, May 7 and May 16. Firearms officers have been dispatched to the scene to work out where the suspected shots may have been fired from.

However, no investigations are currently ongoing, with officers now looking at preventing yobs striking again in the future.

They will look to redirect any existing CCTV cameras nearby to cover the centre, while night officers have been told to pay the area particular attention.

"I want this to be treated as a high priority," Councillor Simkins added. "The people of Bilston can play their part, too – someone out there knows who's doing this."

Yobs first damaged the centre before it even opened, shattering three second-floor windows in November before a grand unveiling on December 3.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Deb Edmonds said: "If anyone has any information we would urge them to come forward."