FIREFIGHTERS had to don breathing apparatus to tackle a fire after vandals targeted a public toilet in Cricklade.

The loos, behind the new Tesco Express shop in the town's High Street, will now need extensive repairs.

The culprits used stone from a wall to smash up the toilets and then torched material inside.

A spokeswoman for Cricklade Town Council said: "A considerable amount of damage has been caused. The repairs will costs thousands of pounds. Windows and lights have been broken and equipment ripped off the walls.

"Whoever it was set fire to something inside the toilet.

"There is a dry-stone wall beside the toilet and the people involved have taken the stones from the wall to smash up toilet and have destroyed the wall as well.

"We have started a campaign to find the people who did it."

A spokeswoman for Wiltshire Fire Brigade said that firefighters had to use breathing apparatus to put out the fire.

Coun Brian Atfield, (pictured) deputy chairman of the town council, said: "This is dreadful. Somebody has gone in there and tried to set fire to the place. The problem is that people do this kind of damage and the likes of us have to pay for it through the council tax. It's a problem for us all."

Sergeant Dave Stevenson, of Cricklade police, said: "We are very grateful to the council for their efforts in assisting us, and we would appeal to anyone with information to contact Cricklade police on

01793 750207 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."