MINDLESS vandals have trashed life-saving equipment and caused more than £1,000 worth of damage to a community venue.

Y Plas in Machynlleth was hit by vandals shortly after 5am on Monday morning, with fencing, gates, picnic tables and a defibrillator all wrecked in the incident.

As well as a community hall, art gallery, shop and cafe, Machynlleth Town Council which owns, and is also based, at Y Plas.

Town clerk Jim Griffiths told the County Times that staff were dismayed when hey arrived to find the destruction caused by what appears to be three males, caught on CCTV, now being looked at by Dyfed-Powys Police.

He said: "The police are investigating CCTV images and I understand they have some positive leads.

"At 5.15am, three males decided that it would be of great benefit to the community if they helped rearrange the community garden boundary fence by mindlessly trashing it and smashing the gates.

"They then decided to smash the defibrillator and all the bins along with the picnic tables outside the Plas.

This has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and we ask the community to come together and help identify the three. If anyone knows anything about this - please get in touch and we will take it from there."

Mr Griffiths added: "We're looking to replace some of the fencing, the benches, and re-site some of the posts, and get a 5 bar gate.

"We will get a new defibrillator box and will possibly need 20 yards of fencing, depending on whether it is our responsibility.

"The cost of the damage is estimated at about £1,500 and we will have to see what happens regarding the insurance, and recovering costs if the vandals are brought to court."

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Police received a report this morning that damage had been caused at the Plas, Machynlleth, including damage to benches and garden fences. Enquiries are ongoing.”