Vandals in osprey centre wrecking spree

Intruders broke into the Mid Wales Osprey Centre, just days before the birds are expected to return to Britain.

They smashed the windows of the Dyfi Osprey Project offices on the Dyfi estuary along with computers, monitors and other electronic equipment used to live stream pictures of the birds.

Thousands of visitors flock to see the osprey and other birds nest at the site every year and the Centre opened its multi-million pound observatory last year.

The damage, which happened in the early hours of Monday, has left members of the Montgomery Wildlife Trust, who run the Centre, reeling.

But today the project manager Emyr Evans said donations of money and offers of help had flooded in from across the world after pictures of the damage were posted on Facebook.

Mr Evans said the damage was wanton vandalism which, although he could not put a figure on it, ran into thousandS of pounds of damage.

"They smashed windows, the alarm, monitors, live streaming equipment and other computers," he said.

"Everything they smashed was of little re-sale value, it was only valuable to us in order for us to do our work. The only thing they took was the float out of the till, some coins and a handful of fivers. Electronic equipment seemed to be destroyed for no reason, just for the hell of it. They also destroyed exhibition work that our learning officer had been working on for an event for 600 children in Aberyswyth University on that day. She continued with that visit, volunteers turned up to help us clean up and the live streaming was back on-line and the Centre opened the next day."

Mr Evans said that he had been overwhelmed by the response from the public.

"On Monday, someone broke our equipment, but not our spirits. Someone broke into our lives but not our souls and someone tried to make us weaker but instead, made us stronger.

"We have had donations to the Dyfi Osprey Project from Britain and across the world, and offers of all kinds of practical help. Thank you hardly seems a fitting appreciation of our gratitude. "

"The Dyfi ospreys should be returning any time from next week and are probably flying somewhere over Gibraltar as we speak," Mr Evans said.