VANDALS broke into a shed and stole paint which was then used to daub obscenities onto trees and grass in Builth Wells.

The highly visible act of vandalism happened in the scenic Groe area of the town and is believed to have happened overnight on Tuesday, August 4. The culprits broke into a shed owned by Builth Rugby Club next to their Groe home pitch and stole blue spray paint within, which was then used to graffiti trees and paint obscenities into the grass.

Builth Wells Town Council said it had reported the vandalism to the local authority.

“Such a shame when so many people are trying to make our town a better place to live and work,” the town council posted on its Facebook page with a picture of a defaced tree on Wednesday morning, August 5.

“Someone or some persons have decided to graffiti the Groe with blue paint. Some obscenities have been painted onto the grass area and on the trees. This has been reported to Powys County Council.”

The blue paint was stolen from the rugby club’s shed adjacent to the pitch, with the shed being used to store rugby equipment as well as items belonging to the very popular Groe Park Run which has rose to prominence in the town in recent years.

Lee Jarvis, the Groe Park Run event director, said: “They’ve broken into the rugby club’s storage shed and stolen the blue line-marking spray.

“The spray belongs to our community’s park run which had been kindly donated by a local businessman, after reaching out for help towards the costs of buying it.

“Four tins are missing and it was also sprayed on our park run signage, as well as the shed walls and a new trailer belonging to Builth Rugby Club, as well as what you’ve seen outside.

“Builth Rugby Club offered to help the Groe Park Run by letting us use a part of their storage for free, keeping the community healthy and happy each Saturday.

“Luckily, I took the trolley home with volunteer vests and valuable equipment last week to wash, check and clean in readiness for when park run can safely return throughout Wales.

“I’ve come down to the shed to put everything back today and seen all of this.”

There has been a spate of similar incidents in Builth in recent months, with the town’s football club suffering vandalism in June.

Damage to seating at the club’s Lant Field ground was noticed on June 24 by chairman Tom Price, with the club of the belief the damage was linked to an antisocial element currently sweeping the town.

“Chairman Tom Price was disappointed to find damage caused to seating at the Lant Field stand earlier today,” the club said on its Twitter feed at the time.

“One seat has been completely decimated while several others have cracks or chips in them. Guessing the perpetrators aren’t aware we have CCTV.

“We don’t really want to blow things out of proportion as a club but it’s so annoying when we’re working hard on and off the field to take Builth places, yet some people are undermining the hard work. The worst thing is, clearly, it’s local people treating the place like this.”