THIEVES caused more than a thousand pounds worth of damage in a break-in at the Tower Digital Arts Centre in Helensburgh.

Saturday’s vandalism was the second blow for community projects in the Burgh within two days.

Early on Friday morning thieves broke into The Tower Digital Arts Centre causing several thousand pounds worth of damage.

Shocked volunteers discovered the damage to windows and internal doors when they turned up at the Sinclair Street venue on Friday morning.

They also found that tills had been rifled and money stolen.

The centre was kept shut over the weekend until Monday to allow for forensic investigations.

This week, The Tower’s founder, Brian Keating, said the break-in had been a kick in the teeth, especially for the centre’s volunteers who do an incredible amount of work at the popular venue.

He said: “This is the first time it’s been hit by something like this. It’s very disheartening for the volunteers who have put in a lot of blood sweat and tears at the centre.”

The screening of two new film releases had to be postponed until police completed investigations.

Mr Keating said that the damage to windows and internal doors would run into four figures, while a three-figure sum was stolen from the tills.

None of the cinema equipment had been damaged.

Helensburgh police told the Advertiser: “Sometime between 0005hrs and 0900hrs on September 7, persons unknown forced entry into a leisure property on Sinclair Street, Helensburgh, and made off with a three figure sum of cash.

“Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact Helensburgh police office or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.”