NEARLY a third of the windows at the Peace Children's Centre are now smashed or damaged, after the latest spate of vandalism to hit the distinctive Rickmansworth Road building.

Since the Watford Observer reported the previous wave of damage in August, more windows have been broken and last week vandals struck again, leaving 40 windows needing to be replaced by the Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust, at a cost of about £1,000 each.

Yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, glass still littered the ground around the building, in Peace Prospect, that 14,000 children visit each year for appointments with doctors, nurses and dentists.

The money spent on replacement windows would nearly pay for two extra nurses for one year.

Site manager Tony Woollard said: "I take this vandalism personally, but I can't watch the building 24-hours a day."

The trust has tried toughened glass but found it did not stand up to the vandals' attacks.

Panels are now going to be replaced with unbreakable double-glazed panels, made from Kevlar and carbon fibre, which should be practically indestructible.

Meanwhile, vandalised equipment at a Croxley Green play area will be replaced at a cost of almost £8,000.

The executive committee of Three Rivers District Council has agreed to fund a replacement slide and safety surfacing at Barton Way play area, subject to funding for improved lighting being secured.

Portfolio holder for community safety Roger Seabourne said: "Incidents like this not only have an effect on the local community but are also very costly to deal with.

"We have already taken action at Barton Way - cutting back hedges to make the area more visible and deter criminal activity, removing the graffiti, removing a vandalised bench. New fencing for around the play area is being arranged and we also hope to secure funding for improved lighting.

"Families have the right to enjoy their local play area, and we would assure them that we are doing everything we can to crack down on this criminal damage."

However, Councillor Seabourne said incidence of vandalism and graffiti was low in Three Rivers. Criminal damage in Three Rivers fell by 17.8 per cent between April and September this year compared with the same period last year, from 753 incidents to 619 - the biggest drop in Hertfordshire.