FEARS for the security of a community project in Clackmannan have been raised following further instances of vandalism.

Windows were smashed and a valuable irrigation system was tampered with at the Butterfly Garden, which sits behind the town hall.

Those who devote time and energy to the upkeep of the garden have spoken out about their despair at the constant damage.

Ian Allan, volunteer and one of the Butterfly Garden founders, said attacks have continued despite police intervention.

He said: "We had instances of vandalism before but the police caught the people responsible and we thought that that would have been it.

"We've got a water timer on our irrigation system to water all the plants but when we went in on Wednesday, it had all been disconnected and a pane of glass had been kicked in.

"They put a padlock on the garden as we were trying to leave it unlocked for people but it just wasn't working.

The Butterfly Garden was established by a dedicated group that took over an area of derelict land behind the town hall and redeveloped it into a green space for people to visit and use for gardening.

However, this is not the first time the garden has been subjected to vandalism, with windows smashed and plants pulled out in the past.

Margaret Schofield, another one of the group's founders, said the group maybe be forced to upgrade the CCTV to monitor the garden at night.

"We're all very upset because we have put a lot of work into it over the past few years and it all seems so mindless," Margaret told the Advertiser.

"It would be quite an expense to upgrade the town hall system to include the garden but we're looking at a domestic style of CCTV.

"We're considering a camera for the front door which is connected to Wi-Fi and senses movement of anyone passing."

Numerous incidents of vandalism have been reported to community police officers in the area, with previous offenders said to have been caught and dealt with.

Barry Ritchie, community police officer for Clackmannan, said: "A huge amount of work goes into maintaining the garden for the use of everyone in Clackmannan and it is a very small minority who seem determined to spoil this for the rest.

"We are looking at ways of upgrading the security at the garden but it is really sad that such a beautiful resource needs security at all."

The Butterfly Garden is to host an open day on Saturday, July 22 at 11am, to showcase the garden and the work that has went in.