The man behind a community garden space in Swindon has been left questioning if he wants to continue after it was struck by vandals. 

The Gap garden, found on a stretch of grass between two homes on Carstairs Avenue, was started a year ago by a group of neighbours in the area, after it was first raised as an idea by Matthew French. 

It was set up to help local residents grow their own food for free during the pandemic but has now seen further use because of the ongoing cost of living crisis. 

Read More: Swindon neighbours join forces to create a community garden

The garden has been running since then, but now Matthew, who is also the chairman of the committee, is considering shutting the whole thing down after "thoughtless youths" are alleged to have caused some vandalism in the area. 

On July 29, Matthew discovered that some 2,000 litres of water that had been collected in two huge water butts for the garden had been emptied.

Swindon Advertiser: Two massive water butts were completely emptiedTwo massive water butts were completely emptied (Image: Matthew French)

Taking to Facebook, he said: "I am heartbroken. All that hard work by our GAP Chairman, to fill the water tanks has been wasted, by a few thoughtless youths.

"But don't worry whoever you are, you're on CCTV and it will be reported to the police.

"That's 2,000 litres gone, it took six months of collecting and carrying to fill.

"If the vandalism continues the whole project will be shut down and everything will be removed."

Matt added that he has now had to add a new rule for the site that no tools are to be left there.

The site is a public open space, so the group are not able to add any fencing or gates to better secure it, but up until now, there have been no other issues. 

He continued by saying that the rest of the committee and members of the public who use the facility have been left saddened by this incident.

As well as banning tools being left, the group have also added another ongoing security measure, with some residents providing CCTV to monitor the garden going forward. 

Matthew said: "If the vandalism continues, we will forward the evidence to the police.

"Sadly it only takes a few bad eggs to destroy something beautiful. People seem to have no respect these days.

"I feel like packing the whole project in because of this."