VOLUNTEERS striving to restore an historic mill fear they will be forced to close the beauty spot following a spate of vandalism.

In recent months Howsham Mill has been targeted on five separate occasions with vandals smashing precious windows and torching workers’ buildings.

Officials from the Renewable Heritage Trust, who are co-ordinating the project, fear they are dealing with separate gangs independently carrying out malicious damage.

Local resident Mel Nichol, who is a member of the group, said they might have to close the area to the public when they are not working on the riverside site.

She said: “This is like a kick in the stomach for everybody who has been involved with the project since its inception in 2004.

“We have always had people causing minor damage but nothing this serious. These recent cases are very different in their nature because of their obvious malicious intent. “Locals have been coming down here swimming and enjoying the tranquillity of Howsham Mill for many years and we don’t mind this.

“When people are deliberately starting fires and thousands of pounds worth of damage, this is an entirely different matter.”

Last weekend police were called to the secluded spot on two separate occasions after reports of gangs hanging around causing damage.

Now police are stepping up patrols in the area and say they have enlisted the help of the local community to note down the registration details of suspicious vehicles.

PC Terry Triffitt from Safer Ryedale said: “These volunteers are working hard to restore an attraction for the benefit of the whole community. It’s extremely selfish to cause this costly damage and the money spent on repairs is being diverted from the renovation scheme.

“Anybody found down there breaking the law will be prosecuted and members of the public who do have any information are urged to come forward.”

Although narrowly missing out on funding through the BBC’s Restoration programme, since the high profile television appearance, volunteers have been working hard to renovate the mill.

The idea behind the project is to restore the 18th century mill back to its former glory and generate power, which will be sold and used on the national grid.

Despite the recent damage, officials say they are on course to have the Archimedean screw, which is crucial to generating electricity, working in a couple of months.

Anybody with any information about any of the damage they should contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 247.