MARSDEN villagers are appealing to young vandals to leave a bus shelter alone.

The gang of youngsters that gathers at the shelter on Dirker Drive each evening is forcing bus drivers to miss the stop.

Passengers are too frightened to stand in it.

The shabby state of the shelter has led to some people calling for the structure to be pulled down altogether.

But Dorothy Lindley and fellow members of Marsden Enhancement Committee (MEC) are pleading with youngsters to leave the bus shelter alone.

They say a shelter specially for young people will be built, all being well, by March or April next year.

"There are a lot of people on Dirker Drive that really do use the shelter and would be disadvantaged without it.

"We would like to ask the young people to please treat that bus shelter with respect and let's try and keep it going for a bit longer."

The young vandals have smashed the glass and regularly sit on the roof and dangle their legs down the side, upturn the litter bin and scratch the paintwork.

Mrs Lindley, who chairs MEC, said that they even had a settee in the shelter at one point.

"We have had a £7,000 grant from the Children's Fund, £1,000 from the Cuckoo's Nest charity shop, and £1,000 from a private donor," she said.

"Kirklees Council will also be providing some money."

Mrs Marsden said that the youth shelter was to be built on council land near the railway station.

Most of the money would go on draining the site.

"Everybody will be working hard to get an area of land for them with a shelter to go on it," she said.

"The young people have had a look at the one at Sands in Holmfirth and at others in the area.

"We are doing everything we can for them so we hope they will do something for us - and stop damaging the shelter.

"If they do not, we will support the people who want to pull the shelter down."